Othello, The Moor of Venice

Jvûc^
I*rice Oents.
OT-H ELLO
THE MOOR OF VENICE.
-BY
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
It
NEW YORK:
Tribune Building.
1882.
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fAv
OTH E LLO,
THE MOOR OF VENICE.
"
OTHELLO, THE MOOE OF VENICE.
DEAMATIS PERSONS.
Duke of Yenice. Clown, servact to Othello.
Brabantio, a senator.
Other Senators. Desdemona. daughter to Brahan-
Gratiano, brother to Brabantio. tio and wife to Othello.
LoDovico, kinsman to Brabantio. Emilia, wife to la go.
Othello, a noble Moor in the ser- Bianca, mistress to Cassio.
vice of the Venetian state.
Cassio, his lieutenant. Sailor, Messenger, Herald, Of-
Iago, his ancient. fleers. Gentlemen, Musicians,
RoDERiGo, a Venetian gentleman. and Attendants.
MoNTANo, Othello's predecessor
in the government of Cyprus.
Scene: Venice: a iSea-pori in Cyprus.
ACT I.
Scene I. Venice. A street.
Enter Roderigo and Iago.

Rod. Tnsli? never tell me; I take it much unkindly
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.
Iago. 'Sblood, but you will not hear me:
If ever I did dream of such a matter.
Abhor me. •
Rod. Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy liate.

Iago. Despise me, if Ido not. Three great ones of the
city.
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
Off-capp'd to him: and, by the faith of man, 10
I know m}^ price, I am worth no worse a place:
But he, as loving his own pride and purposes.
Evades them, with a bombast circumstance
Horribly stuff 'd with epithets of war;
And, in conchision,
Nonsuits my mediators; for, " Certes," says he,
"I have alrga^rt^pkgQ-my officer.
Engineers School tiliy. . ;

: ;
SCENE l] OTHELLO. 433
And what was lie ?

Forsooth, a great arithmetician.
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, 30
f A fellow
almost damn'd in a fair wife;
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows
More than a spinster; unless the bookish theorie,
Wherein the toged consuls can propose
As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice,
Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election:
And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof
At Rhodes, at Cjqjrus and on other grounds
Christian and heathen, must be be-lee'd and calm'd 30
By debitor, and creditor: this counter-caster.
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be.
— —
And I (xod bless the mark his Moorship's ancient.
!
Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman.

lago. Why, there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of service,
Preferment goes by letter and affection.
And not by old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself,
Whether I in any just term am affined
To love the Moor.
Rod. I would not follow him then. 4(>
lago. O, content you:
sir,
I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mart
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave.
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,
For nought but provender, and when he's old, cashier'd:
Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are
Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty, 50
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords.
Do well thrive by them and when they have lined their
coats
Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul;
And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir,
It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be lago:
In following him, I follow but mj-self
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end 60
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
! ;
436 OTHELLO. [act i.
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not wiiat I am.
Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe.
If he can carry't thus
lago. Call up her father,
Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen.
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell, 70
Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy.
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,
As it may lose some colour.
Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud.
lago. Do, with like timorous accent and dire. yell
As when, by night and negligence, the fire
Is spied in populous cities.
Rod. What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho?
lago. Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves!
thieves!
Look to your house, your daughter and your bags! 80
Thieves! thieves!
Brabantio appears aloê, at a window.
Bra. Whatthe reason of this terrible
is summons?
What is the matter there?
Rod. Signior, is all your family within?
lago. Are your doors lock'd?
Bra. Why, wherefore ask you this?
lago. 'Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, put on your
gown;
Your heart is burst, you have lost half jôur soul
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise;
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, 90
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of j'our
Arise, I say.
Bra. What, have you lost your wits?
Rod. Most reverend signior, do you know my voice?
Bra. Not I: what are you?
Rod. My name is Roderigo.
Bra. The worser welcome:
I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors:
In honest plainness thou hast heard me say
My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness.
Being full of supper and distempering draughts.
Upon malicious bravery, dost thoii come 100
To start my quiet.
— ; —
SCENE I.] OTHELLO. 437
Rod. Sir, sir, sir,

Bra. But thou must needs be sure
My spirit and mj place have in them power
To make this bitter to thee.
Bod. Patience, good sir.
Bra. Wliat tell'st tliou me of robbing? this is Venice;
My house is hot a grange.
Rod. Most brave Brabantio,
In simple and pure soul I come to you.
lago. 'Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not
serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do
you service and you think we are ruflBans, jôu'll have 3'our
daughter covered with a Barbarj^ horse; you'll have your
nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins
and gennets for germans.
Bra. What profane wretch art thou?
lago. I am oue, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter
and the Moor are now making the beast wdth two backs.
Bra. Thou art a villain.
lago. —
You are a senator. 119
Bra. This thou shalt answer; I know thee, Roderigo.
Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. But, I beseech you,
If t be your pleasure and most wise consent,
As partly I tind it is, that your fair daughter.
At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night.
Transported, with no wôrse nor better guard
But with a knave of common hire, a gondolier.
To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor,
If this be known to jôu and your allowance.
We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs;
But if you know not ttris, my manners tell me 130
We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe
That, from the sense of all civility,
I thus would play and trifle with your reverence:
Your daughter, if you have not given her leave,
I say again, hath made a gross revolt
Tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes
In an extravagant and wheeling stranger
Of here and every where. Straight satisfy yourself:
If she be in her chamber or yom-~^house,
Let loose on me the justice of the state 140
For thus deluding you.
Bra. Strike on the tinder, ho!
Give me a taper! call up all my people!
This accident is not unlike my dream:
Belief of it oppresses me already.
Light, I say! light! [Exit above.
—
lago. Farewell for I must leave you

;
-
Itseems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,

—
To be produced as, if I stay, I shall
Against the Moor: for, I do know, the state,
However this may gall him with some check,
Cannot with safety cast him, for he's embark'd 150
With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars,
Which even now stand in act, that, for their souls.
Another of his fathom they have none,
To lead their business: in which regard,
Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains.
Yet, for necessity of present life,
I must show out a flag and sign of love.
Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him.
Lead to the Sagittary the raised search;
And there will I be with him. So, farewell. \_ExU. 160
Enter, helow, Brabaktio, and Servants loitli torclies.
Bra. It is too true an evil: gone she is;

And what's to come of my despised time
Is nought but bitterness. Now, Roderigo,
Where didst thou see her? O unhap]jy girl!
With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a father!
How didst thou know 'twas she? O, she deceives me
Past thought! What said she to you? Get more tapers:
Raise all my kindred. Are they married, think you?
Rod. Truly, I think they are.
Bra. O heaven! How got she out? O treason of the
blood! 1?0 ^
.
Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds

By what you see them act. Is there not charms
By which the property of youth and maidhood
May be abused? Have you not read, Eoderigo,
Of some such thing?
Rod. Yes, sir, I have indeed.
Bra. Call up my brother. O, wôuld you had hadherl
Some one way, some another. Do you know
Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?
Rod. I think I can discover him, if you please
To get good guard and go along with me. 180
Bra. Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call;
I may command at most. Get weapons, ho!
And raise some special officers of night.
On, good Roderigo :I'll deserve your pains. [Exeunt
: ! :
(6CENE II.] OTHELLO. 439
Scene II. Another street.
Enter Othello, Iago, and Attendants icitli torclies,
lago. Thoiigli in the trade of war I have slain men,

Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience
To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity
Sometimes to do me service nine or ten times
:
I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.

0th. 'Tis better as itîs.
lago. Nay, but he prated.
And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms
Against your honour
That, with the little godliness I have,
I did full hard forbear him. Bu^, I pray you, sir, 10
Are you fast married? Be assured of this,
That the maguifico is much beloved.
And hath in his effect a voice potential
As double as the duke's: he will divorce you;
Or put upon you what restraint and grievance
The law, with all his might to enforce it on,
Will give him cable.
0th. Let him do his spite
My services which I have done the signiory
Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,—
Which, when I know that boasting is an honom-, 20
I shall promulgate —
I fetch my life and being
From men of ro3'al siege, and my demerits
May speak unbonueted to as proud a fortune
As this that I have reach'd for know, lago,
:
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,

I would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumscription and confine
For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yond?
lago. Those are the raised father and his friends
You were best go in.
0th. Not I I must be found
; r
My parts, my
title and my
perfect soul .
Shall manife"st me rightl}^ Is it they?

lago. By Janus, I think no.
Enter Cassio, and certain Officers icith torches.
0th.The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.
The goodness of the night upon you, friends
What is the news?
Oas. The duke does greet you, general,
And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,
Even on the instant.
0th. What is the matter, think you?

Gas. Somethin.^ from Cyprus, as I may divine:
It is a business of some heat: the galleys 40
Have sent a dozen sequent messengers
This very night at one another's heels.
And many of the consuls, raised and met,
Are at the duke's already: you have been hotly call'd for;
AVhen, being not at your lodging to be found,
The senate hath sent about three several quests
To search you out.
0th. " 'Tis well 1 am found by you,
I will but spend a word here in the house,
And go with you. [Exit.
Gas. Ancient, what makes he here?
lago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carac!'. 50 :
If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

Gas. I do not understand.
lago. He's married.
Gas. To who?
Re-enter Othello.
la^jo. —
Marry, to Come, captain, will you go?
0th. Have with you.
Gas. Here comes another troop to seek for you.
lago. It is Brabantio. General, be advised;
He comes to bad intent.
Enter Brabantio, Roderigo, and Officers with toi^ches and
weapons.
0th. Holla! stand there!
Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.
Bra. Down with him, thief!
{They draic on both sides.
lago. You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you.
0th. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust
them.
Good signior, you shall more command with years 60
Than with your weapons.
Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my
daughter?
Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her;
For I'll refer me to all things of sense.
If she in chains of magic were not bound,
Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy,
So opposite to marriage that she shunn'd
The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,
Would ever have, to incur'a general mock.
SCENE III.] OTHELLO. 441
Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom 70

Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight.
Judge rae the world, if 'tis not gross in sense
That thou hast practised on her with foul charms,
Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals
That weaken motion: I'll have't disputed on;
'Tis probable and palpable to thinking.
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
For an abuser of the world, a practiser
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.
Lay hold upon him if he do resist,
. 80
Subdue him at his peril.
0th. Hold your hands,
Both you of my inclining, and the rest:
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter. Where will you that I go
To answer this your charge?
Bra. To prison, till fit time
Of law and course of direct session
Call thee to answer.
0th. What if I do obey?
How may the duke be therewith satisfied,
Whose messengers are here about side. my
Upon some present business of the state 90
To bring me to him?
First Off. Tis true, most worthy signior;
The duke's in council, and your noble self,
I am sure, is sent for.
Bra. How! the duke in council!
In this time of the night! Bring him away:
Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself.
Or any of my brothers of the state,
Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own;
For if such actions may have passage free,
Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.
\Êxeiint
Scene III. A council-cliairiber.

The Duke and Senators sitting at a table; Officers attending
Duke, 'i'here is no composition in these news
That gives them credit.
First Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion'd;
My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.
Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty.
Sec. Sen. And mine, two hundred'
But though they jump not on a just account,—
!
As in these cases, M^here the aim reports,

'Tis oft with difference
A Turkish fleet,
yet — do they confirm
and bearing up to Cyprus.
all
BuJie. Nay, it is possible enough to judgement:

I do not so secure me in the error, 10
But the main article I do approve
In fearful sense.
Sailor. [ WttJiin'] What, ho wliat, ho what, ho
! !
Fii'd Off. A messenger from the galleys.

Enter a Sailor.
Duke. Now, what's the business?

Sail. Tlie Turkish preparation makes for Eliodes;
So was I bid report liere to tlie state
By Siguier Angelo.
Duke. How say you by this change?
First Sen. This cannot be,
By no assay of reason: 'tis a pageant.
To lêep us in false gaze. When we consider
The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk, 20
And ourselves again but understand,
let
Tliat as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,
So may he with more facile question bear it,
For that it stands not in such warlike brace,
But altogether lacks the abilities
That Rhodes is dress'd in if we make thouglit of this,
:
We must not think the Turk is so unskilful

To leave that latest wdiich concerns him first.
Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain.
To wake and wage a danger profitless. 30
DuJce. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.
First Off. Here is more news.
Enter a Messenger.
I Mess. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious.
Steering with due course towards the isle of Rliodes,
Have there injointed them with an after fleet.
First Sen. Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?
Mess. Of thirt}^ sail and now they do re-stem
:
Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance

Their purposes toward Cyprus. Siguier Montano,
Your trusty and most valiant servitor, 40
With his free duty recommends you thus,
And prays you to believe him.
Duke. 'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.
Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?
First Sen. He's now in Florence.
;
DuJce. Write from us to him; post-post-liaste dispatch.

First Sen. Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.
Enter Brabantio, Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Oificers.
Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you

Against the general enemy Ottoman.
[2o> Brabantio] I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior;
We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night. 51
Bra. So did I yours. Good jôur grace, pardon me
Neither my place nor aught I heard of business
Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care
Take hold on me, for m}^ particular grief
Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature
Tliat it engluts and swallows other sorrows
And it is still itself.
Duke. Why, what's the matter?
Bra. ]My daughter! O, mj'- daughter!
Duke and Sen. Dead?
Bra. Ay, to me;
She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted 60
By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
For nature so preposterously to err.
Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,
Sans witchcraft could not.
Duke. Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding
Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself
And you of her, the'^bloody book of law •
You shall yourself read in the bitter letter

After your own sense, jêa, though our proper son
Stood in your action.
Bra. Humbly I thank your grace. 70
Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it seems,
Your special mandate for the state-affairs
Hath hither brought.
Duke and Sen. We are very sorry for't.
Duke. [To Othello'] What, in your own pai't, can you say
to this?
Bra. Kothing, but this is so.
Ot7i. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors.
My very noble and approved good masters.
That J, have ta'en away this old man's daughter.
It is most true; true, I have married her:
The very head and front of my offending 80
Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace:
For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith.
Till PLOW some nine moons wasted, they have used
;
Their dearest action in the tented field,

And little of this great world can I speak,
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle,
And therefore little shall I grace my cause
In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver 90
Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,
"What conjuration and what mighty magic,
For such proceeding I am charged withal,
I won his daughter.
Bra. A maiden never bold
Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion
Blush'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature,
Of years, of country, credit, every thing.
To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on!
It is a judgement maim'd and most imperfect
That will confess perfection so could err 100
Against all rules of nature, and must be driven
To find out practices of cunning hell.
Why this should be. I therefore vouch again
That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,
Or with some dram conjured to this effect,
He wrought upon her.
Duke. To vouch this, is no proof.
Without more wider and more overt test
Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods
Of modern seeming do prefer against him.
First Sen. BmI, OilieWo, ^\:)G.2l^: 110
Did you by indirect and forced courses
Subdue and poison this jôung maid's affections?
Or came it by request and such fair question
As soul to soul affordeth?
0th. I do beseech you,
Send for the lady to the Sagittary,
And let her speak of me before her father:
If you do find me foul in her report,
The trust, the oifice I do hold of you.
Not only take away, but let your sentence
Even fall upon my life.
Duke. Fetch Desdemona hither, 120
0th. Ancient, conduct them you best know the place.
:
[Exeunt lago and Attendants.

And, till she come, as truly as to heaven
I do confess the vices of my blood.
So justly to your grave ears I'll present
How I did thrive in this fair lady's love,
And she in mine.
: ;
SCEXE III.] OTHELLO. 445
Buke. Say it, Othello.

Her father loved me; oft invited me;
0th,
question'd me the stor}^ of my life,
Stiil
From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes, 130
That I have pass'd.
I ran it through, even from my boyish days.
To the very moment that he bade me tell it
Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,
Of moving accidents by flood and field.
Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach,
Of being taken by the insolent foe
And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence
And portance in my travels' history:
Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, 140
Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven,
It was my hint to spealc, such — was the process;
And of the Cannibals that-each other eat,
The Anthropophagi and men whose lieads
Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear
Would Desdemona seriously incline:
But still the house-affairs would draw her thence:
Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,
She'ld come again, and Mdth a greedy ear
Devour up my discourse: which I observing, loO
Took once a pliant hour, and found good means
To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart
That I would all my pilgrimage dilate.
Whereof by parcels she had something heard.
But not iutentively I did consent,
.
And often did beguile her of her tears.

When I did speak of some distressful stroke
Tliatmy youth suffer'd. My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs
She swore, in faith, 'twas sti'ange, 'twas passing strarsge,
'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: 161
She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wisli'd
That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd ms,
And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
I should but teach liim how to tell my
story,
And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:
She loved me for the dangers I liad pass'd.
And I loved her that she did pity them.
This only is tlie witclicraft I have used;
Here comes tlie lady; let her witness it. 170
Enter Desdemona, Iago, and Attendants.
Buke. I think this tale wôuld win my daughter too.
: ; :
446 OTHELLO. [act l
Good Brabantio,
Take up this mangled matter at the hest:
Men do their broken weapons rather use
Than their bare hands.
Bra. I pray jon, hear her speak
If she confess that she was half the wooer,
Destruction on my head, if my bad blame
Light on the man! Come hither, gentle mistress:
Do you perceive in all this noble company
Where most you owe obedience?
Bes. My noble father, 180
I do perceive here a divided duty
To you I am bound for life and education
My life and education both do learn me
How to respect you; you are the lord of duty;
I am hitherto your daughter but here's my husband.
:
And so much duty as my mother show'd

To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord.
'
Bra. God be wi' you ! I have done.

Please it your grace, on to the state affairs: 190
I had rather to adopt a child than get it.
Come Moor:
hither,
I heredo give thee that with all my heart
Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart
I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,
I am glad at soul I have no other child;
For thy escape would teach me tyranny,
To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.
Duke. Let me speak like yourself, and lay a sentence,
Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers 200
Into your favour.
When remedies are past, the griefs are ended
By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended.
To mourn a mischief that is past and gone
Is the next way to draw new mischief on.
What cannot be preserved when fortune takes
Patience her injury a mockery makes.
The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief;
He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.
Bra. So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile; 210
We lose it not, so long as we can smile.
He bears the sentence well that nothing bears
But the free comfort which from thence he hears.
But he hears both the sentence and the sorrow
That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow.
:
These sentences, to sugar, or to gall,

Beiag strong on both sides, are equivocal:
But words are words I never yet did hear
;
That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear.

I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state. 220
Duhe. The Turk with a most might}' preparation makes
for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best
known to you; and though we have there a substitute of
most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign mistress
of effects, throws a more safer voice on you you must ;
therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new for-

tunes with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition.
0th. The tyrant custom, most grave senator*^, 230
Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war
My thrice-driven bed of down; I do agnize
A natural and prompt alacrity
1 find in hardness, and do undertake
These present wars against the Ottomites.
Most humbly therefore bending to your state,
I crave fit disposition for my wife,
Due reference of place and exhibition,
With such accommodation and besort
As levels with her breeding.
Duke. If you please, 240
Be 't at her father's.
Bra. I'll not have it so.
0th. Nor I.
Des. Kor I; I would not there reside,
To put my father in impatient thoughts
B}' being in his eye. Most gracious duke,
To myunfolding lend your prosperous ear;
And let me find a charter in your voice,
To assist my simpleuess.
What would you, Desdemona?
Duke.
That I did love the Moor to live with him,
Des.
My downright violence and storm of fortunes 250
May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued
Even to the very qnalit}'" of my lord
I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
And to his honours and his valiant parts
Did I my
soul and fortunes consecrate.
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
The rites for which I love him are bereft me,
And I a heavy interim shall support
By his dear absence. Let me go with him, 2G0
0th. Let her have your voices.
—
448 OTHELLO. [act l
Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not,

To please the palate of my appetite,
Nor to comply with heat — the young affects
In me defunct — and proper satisfaction,
But and bounteous to her mind:
to be free
And heaven defend your good souls, that you think
I will your serious and great business scant
For she is with me: no, when light-wing'd toys
Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dullness 270
My speculative and officed instruments.
That my disports corrupt and taint my business.
Let housewives make a skillet of my helm,
And all indign and base adversities
Make head against my estimation!
Duke. Be it as you shall privately determine,
Either for her stay or going: the affair cries haste,
And speed must answer it.
First Sen. You must away to-night.
0th. With all my heart.
Duke. At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again. 280
Othello, leave some officer behind.
And he shall our commission bring to you;
With such things else of quality and respect
As doth import you.
0th. So please your grace, my ancient:
A man he is of honesty and trust:
To his conveyance I assign my wife,
With what else needful your good grace shall think
To be sent after me.
Duke. Let it be so.
Good night to every one. \^To Brdb.'] And, noble signior,
If virtue no delighted beauty lack, 290
Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.
First Sen. Adieu, brave Moor; use Desdemona wêll.
Bra. Look to her. Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has deceived her father, and may thee
[Exeunt Duke, Senators, Officers, &c.
0th. My life upon her faith! Honest lago.
My Desdemona must I leave to thee:
I prithee, let thy wife attend on her:
And bring them after in the best advantage.
Come, Desdemona; I have but an hour
Of love, of worldly matters and direction, 300
To spend with thee: we must obey the time.
\_Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.
Rod. lago,
lago. What say'st thou, noble heart?
Bod. What will I do, thinkest thou?

lago. Why, go to bed, and sleep.
Bod. I will iucontinentl}^ drown myself.
lago. If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why,
thou silly gentleman.
Bod. It is silliness to livfe when to live is torment; and
then have we a prescription to die when death is our physi-
cian. 311
lago. O
villanous! I have looked upon the world for
four times seven years; and since I could distinguish
betwixt, a benefit and an injury, I never found man that
knew how to love himself. Ere I would say, I would
drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I would change
my humanity with a baboon.
Bod. What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be
so fond ;but it is not in my virtue to amend it. 321
lago. Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus or
thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills
are gardeners so that if we will plant nettles, or sow let-
;
tuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one

gender of herbs, or distract it with many, either to have it
sterile with idleness, or manured with industry, why, the
power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. If
the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise
another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our na-
tures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions-
but we have' reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal
stings, our uubitted lusts, whereof I take this that you call
love to be a sect or scion.
Bod. It cannot be.
lago. It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of
the will. Come, be a man. Drown thyself! drown cats
and blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend and I
confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable
toughness; I could never better stead thee than now. Put
mone}'' in thy purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy fa-
vour with an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy
purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue
her love to the Moor, —
put money in thy purse, nor he his —
to her: it was a
violent commencement, and thou shalt see
These Moors are changeable in their wills

—
an answerable sequestration; put but money in thy purse.
—
fill thy purse
:
—
with money: the food that to him now is as luscious as
locusts, shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida.
She must change for youth: when she is sated with his
body, she will find the error of her choice: she must have
change, she must: therefore put money in thy purse. If
SHAK. Til. — 15
thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a more delicate way

than drowning. Make all the money thou canst: if sanc-
timony and a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and a
supersubtle Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all
the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her; therefore make
money. A
pox of drowning ^hyself it is clean out of the
!
way: seek thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy

than to be drowned and go without her.
Bod. Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on the
issue? 370
—
lago. Thou art sure of me: go, make money: I have —
told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate
the Moor: my
cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason.
Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him; if thou
canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a
sport. There are many events in the womb
of time which
will be delivered. Traverse go, provide thy money.
! We
will have more of this to-morrow. Adieu. 380
Eod. Where shall we meet i' the morning?
lago. At my
lodging.
Bod. I'll be with thee betimes.
lago. Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?
Bod. What say you?
lago. No more of drowning, do you hear?
Bod. I am changed: I'll go sell all my land. [Exit.
lago. Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane.
If I would time expend with such a snipe,
But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor;
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt sheets mj
He has done my
office: I know not if't be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety. He holds me wêll;
The better shall my
purpose work on him.
Cassio's a proper man: let me see now:
To get his place and to plimie up will my
—
In double knavery How, hov*^? Let's see:— — • 400
After some time, to abuse Othello's ear
That he is too familiar with his wife.
He hath a person and a smooth dispose
To be suspected, framed to make women false.
The Moor is of a free and open nature,
That tliinks men honest that but seem to be so.
And will as tenderly be led by the nose
As asses are.
I have't. It is engender'd. Hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to tlie Avorld's light. 410
\E.vit.
ACT IL
Scene L A Sea-port in Ci/i^rtcs. Aii open place near the
quay.
Enter Montano and two Gentlemen.
Mon. What from the cape can you discern at sea?

First Oeiit. Nothing at all: it is a high- wrought flood;
I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main,
Descry a sail.
3Ion. Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land;
A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements:
If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea, .
What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them,

Can hold the mortise? What shall we hear of this?
Sec. Gent. A
segregation of the Turkish fleet: 10
For do but stand upon the foaming shore,
The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds;
The wind-shaked surge, with lii^^h and monstrous mane,
Seems to cast water on the burning bear,
And quench the guards of the ever-fix'd pole:
I never did like molestation view
On the enchafed flood.
Mon. If that the Turkish fleet
Be not enshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd;
It is impossible they bear it out.
Enter a third Gentleman.

Third Gent. News,lads! our wars are done. 20
The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks,
That their designment halts: a noble ship of Venice
Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance
On most part of their fleet.
Mon. How! is this true?
Third Gent. The ship is here put in,
A Veronesa; Michael Cassio,
Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,
Is come on shore: the Moor liimself at sea,
And in full commission here for Cyprus.
is
Mon. lamgladou't; 'tis a worthy governor. 30
Third Gent. But this same Cassio, though he speak cf
comfort
Touching the Turkish yet he looks sadly,
loss,
And prays the Moor be were parted
safe; for they
With foul and violent tempest.
Mon. Prav heavens he be;
: ; ——"
453 OTHELLO. [act il
For I have served him, and the man commands

Like a full soldier. Let's to the seaside, ho!
As well to see the vessel that's come in
As throw out our eyes for brave Othello,
to
Even till we make the main and the aerial blue
An indistinct regard.
Third Gent. Come, let's do so 40
For every minute is expectancy
Of more arrivance.
Enter Cassio.
Cas. Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle,
That so approve '^the Moor! O, let the heavens
Give him defence against the elements.
For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.
Moil. Is he well shipp'd?
Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot
Of very expert and approved allowance;
Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, 50
Stand in bold cure.
[A cry within " A sail, a sail, a sail!"
Enter a fourth Gentleman.
Ccm. "What noise?
Fourth Oeiit. The town is empty; on the brow o' tlie sea
Stand ranks of people, and they cry "A sail!
Cas. My hopes do shape him for the governor.
\Cuns heard.
Sec. Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy:
Our friends at least.
Cas. I pray you, sir, go forth,
And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived.
Sec. Gent. I shall. {Êxit.
^
Moil. But, good lieutenant, is your general wived? 60

Cas. Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid
That paragons description and wild fame
One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
And in the essential vesture of creation
Does tire the ingener.
Re-enter second Gentleman.
How now! who has put in?
Sec. Gent. one lago, ancient to the general.
'Tis
Cas. Has had most favourable and happy speed:
Tempests themselves, high seas and howling winds,
Tlie gutter'd rocks and congregated sands,
Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless ke^sl, 70
: ; !
As having sense of beauty, do omit

Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
The divine Desdemona.
Mon. What is she?
Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's captain,
Left in the conduct of the bold lago,
Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts
A se'nnight's speed. G-reat Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,
That he may bless this bay with his tall ship, 79
Make quick pants in Desdemona's arms.
love's
Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,
And bring all Cyprus comfort
Enter Desdemona, Emilia, Iago, Kodeiiigo, and Atten-
dants.
O, behold,
The riches of the ship is come on shore!
Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.
Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,
Before, behind thee and on every hand,
Enwheel thee round!
Des. I thank you, valiant Cassio.
What tidings can you tell me of my lord?
Gas. He is not yet arrived: nor know I aught
But that he's well and will be shortly here. 90
Des. O, but I fear — How lost you company?
Cas. The great contention of the sea and skies
—
Parted our fellowship But, hark a sail. !
[^TTîY7i2?i " A
sail, a sail !" Quns heard.
Sec. Gent. They give their greeting to the citadel:
This likewise is a friend.
Cas. See for the news.
{Exit Gentleman.
Good ancient, you are welcome. \^To Emilia^ Welcome,
mistress
Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, .
That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding

That gives me this bold show of courtesy. 100
{^Kissing her.
Iago. Sir, wôuld she give you so much of her lips
As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,
You'ld have enough.
Des. Alas, she has no speech.
lago. In faith, too much
I find it still, when I have list to sleep:
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
" ;
454 OTHELLO. [act il
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,

And chides with thinking.
Emil. You have little cause to say so,
lago. Come on, come on you are pictures out of doors^
;
Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens, 111

Saints in your injuries, devils being offended.
Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.
Des. O, fie upon
thee, slanderer!
lago. Nay, true, or else I
it is a Turk: am
You rise to play and go to bed to work.
Emil. Youshall not write praise. my
lago. No, let me not.
Des. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst
praise me?
lago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't;
For I am nothing, if not critical. 120
Des. Come on, assay. There's one gone to the harbour?
lago. Ay, madam.
Des. I am not merry but I do beguile ;
The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.

Come, how wouldst thou praise me?
Ictgo. I am about it; but indeed my invention
Comes from my pate as birdlime does from f rize
It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse labours.
And thus she is deliver'd.
If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit, 130
The one's for use, the other useth it.
Des. Well praised! How if she be black and witty?
lago. If she be black, and thereto have a wit,
She'll find a white that shalJ her blackness fit.
Des. Worse and worse.
Emil. How if fair and fo( ish?
lago. She never yet was foolish
that was fair;
For even her folly helped her to an heir,
Des. These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh,
i' the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her
that's foul and foolish? 141
lago. There's none so foul and foolish thereunto.
But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.
Des. O heavy ignorance! thou praisest the wôrst best-
But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving womau
indeed, one that, in the authority of her merit, did justly
put on the vouch of very malice itself?
lago. She that was ever fair and never proud,
Had tongue at will and yet was never loud, 150
Never lack'd gold and yet went never gay,
Fled from her wish and yet said 1 may,
'
' Now
! —
!
sci::Ni: i.] OTHELLO. 455
She that being anêr'd, her revenge being nigh,

Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly,
Slie that in wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail,
She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind.
See suitors following and not look behind,
She was a wio'ht, if ever such, wight were,
Bes. To do^what? 160
lago. To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.
Bes. O most lame and impotent conclusion! Do not
learn of him. Emilia, though he be thy liusbaud. Hpw say
you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsel-
lor?
Cas. He speaks home, madam you may relisli
: Mm
more
in the soldier than in the scholar.
lago. [Aside] He takes her by the palm: ay, well said,
whisper: with as little a web as this will I ensnare as gi'eat
a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thcc in
thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such
tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had
been better you had not kissed your three fingers so
oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in
Verj^good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy! 'tis so, in-
deed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would they
were clyster-pipes for your sake! [Trumpet loithin.'] The
Moor! I know his trumpet, 180
Gas. 'Tis.trul}^ so.
Bes. Let's meet him and recei^ him,
Cas. Lo, where he comes!
Enter Othello and Attendants.
Otli. O my fair warrior!
Bes. My dear Othello
OtJi. It givesme wonder great as my content
To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!
If afterevery tempest come such calms,
May the winds blow till they have waken'd death!
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas
Olympus-high and duck again as low ICQ
As from heaven! If it were now to die,
hell's
'Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear.
My soul hath her content so jibsolute
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.
Bes. The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow
: !
456 OTHELLO. [act ii.
0th. Amen to that, sweet powers

I cannot speak enough of this content; ,
It stops me here ; it is too much of joy

And this, and this, the greatest discords be 200
[Kissing her.
That e'er our hearts shall make!
lago. [Aside] O, you are well tuned now!
But I'll set down the pegs that make this music,
As honest as I am.
0th. Come, let us to the castle.
Iêws, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd.
How does my old acquaintance of this isle?
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus;
I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,
I prattle out of fashion, and I dote *
In mine own comforts. I pritliee, good lago.
Go to the bay and disembark my coffers: 210
Bring thou the master to the citadel;
He is a good one, and his worthiness
Does challenge much respect. Come, Desdemona,
Once more, well met at Cyprus.
[Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants.
lago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come
hither. If thou be'st valiant, —
as, they say, base men being
in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is
—
native to them, list me. The lieutenant to-night watches
on the court of guard :
—
^first, I must tell thee this Desde- —
mona is directly in love with him. 221
Bod. With him why, 'tis not possible.
!
lago. Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed.
Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but
for bragging and telling her fantastical lies: and will she
love him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think
it. Her eye must be fed and what delight shall she have
;
to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull Avitli

the act of sport, there should be, again to inflame it and to
give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, sympathy
in years, manners and beauties; all which the Moor is
defective in: now, for want of these required conveniences,
her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave
the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will
instruct her in it and compel her to some second choice.
—
Now, sir, this granted, as it is a most pregnant and un-
—
forced position who stands so eminent in the degree of
this fortune as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no fur-
ther conscionable than in putting on the mere form of civil
and humane seeming, for the better compassing of his salt
;
and most hidden loose affection? -why, none; why, none:

a slipper and subtle knave, a finder of occasions, that has
an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true
advantage never present itself a devilish knave. Besides,
;
the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites

in him that folly and green minds look after: a pestilent
complete knave; and the wôman hatli found him already.
Bod. I cannot believe that in her; she's full of most
blessed condition.
lago. Blessed fig's-end! the wine she drinks is made of
grapes: if she had been blessed, she would never have
loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see
her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark
that? 260
Bod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesj".
lago. Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure pro-
logue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met
so near with their lips that their breaths embraced together.
Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! when these mutualities so
marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main
exercise, the incorporate conclusion. Pish But, sir, be you
!
ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch

you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio
knows you not, I'll not be far from you: do you find
some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud,
or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you
please, which the time shall more favourably minister.
Bod. Well.
lago. Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler, and
haply may strike at you provoke him, that he may for
: ;
even out of that will I cause these of Cj'prus to mutiny;

whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but
by the displanting of Cassio. So shall j'ôu have a shorter
journey to your desires by the means I shall then have to
prefer them; and the impediment most profitably removed,
without the which there were no expectation of our pros-
perity.
Bod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity.
lago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and b}^ at the citadel:
I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.
Bod. Adieu. [Exit.
lago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;
That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit:
The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,
And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too 300
; —
Not out of absolute lust, tliough peradventure

I stand accountant for as great a sin,
But partly led to diet my
revenge,
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leap'd into my
seat; the thought Avhereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaAV my
inwards;
And nothing can or shall content soul my
Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife,
Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong 310
That judgement cannot cure. Which thing to do,
If this poor trash of Venice, whom
I trash
For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip.
Abuse him to the. Moor in the rank garb
For I fear Cassio with my
night-cap too
Make Moor thank me, love me and reward me,
the
For making him egregiously an ass
And upon his peace and quiet
practising
Even madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused:
to 320
Knavery's plain face is never seen till used. [Kiit.
Scene II. A street.

Enter a Herald icitli a 'proclamation; Veo^le following.
Tier. It is Othello's pleasure,our noble and valiant gen-
eral, that, certain tidings now arrived, importing the
upon
mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put him-
self into triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires,
each man to wliat sport and revels his addiction leads him:
for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of liis
nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed.
All offices are open, and there is full liberty of feasting
from this present hour of five till the bell have told eleven.
Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus and our noble_ general
Othello! [Kveunt.
SceinE III. xi liall in the castle.
Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants.

0th. Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night:
Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,
Not to outsport discretion.
Cas. lago hath direction w^hat to do
But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye
Will I leok to't.
^
0th. lago is most lionest.

jMicliael. good night: to-morrow witli j'our earliest
Let me have speech with you. [To Desdemonct] Come, my
dear love,
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;
That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you. 10
Good niglit.
\_Exeunt Otliello, Besdemona, and Attendants.
Enter Iago.
Gas. Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch;
Iago. Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' the
clock. Our general cast us thus earh" for ihe love of his
Desdemona; who let us not therefore blame: he hath not
yet made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for
Jove.
C«5. She's a most exquisite lady.
Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game.
Gas. Indeed, she's a most fresh and delic;;te creature. 20
lago. What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley
of provocation.
Gas. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.
lago. And wlien she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?
Gas. She is indeed perfection.
Iago. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant,
I have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of
Cyprus D-allants that would fain have a measure to the
health of black Othello.
Gas. Xot to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and un-
happy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy
would invent some other custom of entertainment.
Iago. O, they are our friends; but one cup: I'll drink for
you. 40
Gas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was
craftily qualified too, and, behold, what innovation it
makes here: I am
unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare
not task my
Aveakness with any more.
Iago. AVliat, man! 'tis a night of revels: the gallants de-
sire it.
Gas. Where are the}^?

Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call them in.
Gas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me. {Exit.
Iago. If I can fasten but one cup upon him, 50
With that which he hath drunk to-night already,
He'll be as full of quarrel and offence
As m}^ young mistress' dog. IS'ow, ni}^ sick fool Roderigo,
Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side out,
!
460 OTHELLO. [act ir.
To Desdemona hath to-night caroused

Potations pottle-deep; and he's to watch:
Three lads of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits,
That hold their honours in a wary distance.
The very elements of this warlike isle,
Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups, 60
And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of drunk-
ards,
Am I to put our Cassio in some action
—
That may offend the isle. But here they come:
If consequence do but approve my dream.
My boat sails freel}', both with wind and stream.
Re-enter Cassio ; with liim Montano and Gentlemen ; 8er-
vants following with loine.
Cas. 'Fore God, they liave given me a rouse already.

Mon. Good f aitli, a little one not past a pint, as I am a
;
soldier.
lago. Somewine, ho! 70
\_Sings\ And
let me the canakin clink, clink;
And
let me the canakin clink:
Asoldier's a man ;
Alife's but a span;

Whj^ then, let a soldier drink.
Some wine, boys!
Cas. 'Fore God, an excellent song.
lago. I learned it in England, where, indeed, they are
most potent in potting: your Dane, your German, and your
swag- bellied Hollander — —
Drink, ho! are nothing to your
English. 81
Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking?
lago. Why, he drinks 3'ou, with facility, your Dane dead
drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives
your Hollander a vomit, ere the next pottle can be filled.
Cas. To the health of our general
Mon. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. 90
lago. O sweet England!
King Stephen was a worthy peer.
His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,
With that he called the tailor lown.
He was a wight of high renown.
And thou art but of low degree:
'Tis pride that pulls the country down;
Then take thine auld cloak about thee.
Some wine, ho! 100
Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other.
!
Will you hear't again?

lago.
Cas. No
for I liold hiui to be unworthy of his place that
;
does those things. Well, God's above all; and there be

souls must be saved, and there be souls must not be
saved.
good lieutenant.
lago. It's true,
Gas. —
For mine own part, no offence to the general, nor
—
any man of quality, I hope to be saved. Ill
lago. And so do I too, lieutenant.
Gas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me the lieuten-
;
ant is to be saved before the ancient. Let's have no more

of this; let's U) our affairs. — —
Forgive us our sins! Gentle-
men, let's look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen,
I am drunk: this is my ancient; this is my
right hand, and
this is my
left: I am not drunk now; I can stand well
enough, and speak well enough. 120
All. Excellent well.
Gas. Why, very well then; you must not think then that
I am drunk. \Êxit.
Moil. To the platform, masters; come, let's set the
watch.
lago. You see this fellow that is gone before;
He is a soldier fit to stand by Csesar
And give direction: and do but see his vice;
'Tis to his virtue a just equinox,
The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. 130
I fear the trust Othello puts him in,
On some odd time of his infirmity,
Will shake this island.
Mon. But is he often thus?
lago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:
He'll watch the horologe a double set,
If drink rock not his cradle.
Mon. It were well
The general were put in mind of it.
Perhaps he sees it not; or his good nature
Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio,
And looks not on his evils: is not this true? 140
Enter Eodeetgo.
lago. {Aside to Mm] How now, Roderigo
I pray you, after the lieutenant; go. [Exit Roderigo.
Mon. And 'tis great pity that the noble Moor
Should hazard such a place as his own second
With one of an ingraft infirmity;
It were an honest action to say
So to the Moor.
— ! ! — : —
462 OTHELLO. [act tt.
lago. Not I, for this fair island

I do love Cassio well ; and would do much
To cure him of this evil — But, hark! what noise.?
\_Cry witMn: "Help! help!"
Re-enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo.
Cas. You rogue ! you rascal
Man. What's the matter, lieutenant?
Gas. A knave teach me my duty! 151
I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.
Rod. Beat me
Gas. Dost thou prate, rogue? {Striking Roderigo.
Mon. Nay, good lieatenant;
{Staying liim.
I pray you, sir, hold your hand.
Gas. Let me go, sir.
Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.
Mon. Come, come, you're drunk.
Gas. Drunk! {They fight.
lago. {Aside to Roderigo'] Away, I say ;
go out, and cry a
mutinj^ {Exit Roderigo.
Nay, good lieutenant, — gentlemen; alas,
Help, ho! — Lieutenant, — —Montano, — sir, sir; 160
Help, masters! —here's a goodly watch indeed! {Bell rings.
Who's that which rings the bell? — Diablo, ho!
The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant, hold!
You will be shamed forever.
Re-enter Othello and Attendants.

Otli. What is the matter
. here?
Mon. 'Zounds, I bleed still ; I ^m hurt to the death.
{Faints.
0th. Hold, for your lives!
lago. Hold, ho! Lieutenant, — —
sir, Montano, — gentle-
men,
Have you forgot all sense of place and duty?
Hold! the general speaks to you; hold, hold, for shame!
0th. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this?
Are we turn'd Turks, and to ourselves do that 170
Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl:
He that stirs next to carve for his own rage
Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.
Silence that dreadful bell it frights the isle
:
From her propriety. What is the matter, masters?

Honest lago, that look'st dead with grieving,
Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charjê thee.
—— —
; —
SCENE in.] OTHELLO. 463
lago. I do not know: friends all but noAv, even now,

In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom 180
Devesting them for bed; and then, but aow
As if some planet had unwitted men
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevisli odds;
And would in action glorious I had lost
Those legs that brought me to a part of it!
OtJi. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?
Gas. I pray you, pardon me; I cannot speak.
Otli. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil; 190
The gravity and stillness of your youth
The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure: what's the matter,
That you unlace your reputation thus
And spend your rich opinion for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it.
Man. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger:
Your officer, lago, can inform you,
While I spare speech, which something now offends me,
Of all that I do know nor know I aught
: 200
By me that's said or done amiss this night;
Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice,
And to defend ourselves it be a sin
When violence assails us.
0th. Xow, by heaven,
My blood begins my saf-^r guides to rule;
And passion, having ray best judgement collied,
Assays to lead the waj^: if I once stir,
Or do but lift this arm, the best of you
Shall sink in my I'ebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout began, who set it on; 210
And he that approved in this offence,
is
Though he had \winn'd with me, both at a birth,
Shall Jose me. What! in a town of war,
Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear.
To manage private and domestic quarrel.
In night, and on the court and guard of safety!
'Tis monstrous. lago, who began't?
Mon. If partially affined, or leagued in office,
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.
lago. Touch me not so near: 220
I had rather have this tongue cut from mouth my
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio
Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth
! — — ,
Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is, general.

Montano and myself being in speech,
There comes a fellow crying out for help:
And Cassio following him with determined sword,
To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause:
Myself the crying fellow did pursue, 230
—
Lest by his clamour as it so fell out
The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot,
Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,
And Cassio high in oath which till to-night
;
I ne'er might say before. When I came back

—
For this was brief I found them close together,
At blow and thrust; even as again they were
When you yourself did part them.
More of this matter cannot I report: 240
But men are men; the best sometimes forget:
Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,
As men in rage strike those that wish them best,
Yet surely Cassio, I believe, received
From him that fled some strange indignity,
Which patience could not pass.
0th. I know, lago.
Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee;
But never more be oflQcer of mine.
Be-enter Desdemona, attended.
Look, my gentle love be not raised up!

if 250
I'll make thee an example.
Des. What's the matter?
Oih. All's well now, sweeting; come away to bed.
Sir, for your hurts, myself wilt be your surgeon:
Lead him off. {^To Montano, wlio is led off.
lago, look with care about the town.
And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.
Come, Desdemona: 'tis the soldiers' life
To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.
[Exeunt all hut lago and Cassio.
lago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant?
Cas. Ay, past all surgery. 260
lago. Marry, heaven forbid!
Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost
my reputation I have lost the immortal part of mysf^f
!
and what remains is bestial. My

reputation, lago, iwy
reputation
!
BCENE III.] OTHELLO. 465
lago. As am
an honest man, I thought you had received
I
some bodily wound there is more sense in that than in
;
reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false impo-

sition: oft got "without merit, and lost without deserving
you have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute your-
self such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover
the general again: you arc but now cast in his mood, a
punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one
would beat his offenceless dog to affright an imperiou?
lion sue to him again, and he's yours.
:
Gas. I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so

good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so in-
discreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squab-
ble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's
own shadow? O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast
no name to be known by, let us call thee devil
lago. "What was he that you followed with your sword?
What had he done to you?
Gas. I know not.
lago. Is't possible?
Gas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly;
a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. O
God, that men should
put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains?
that we should, with joy, plcasance, revel and applause,
transform ourselves into beasts!
lago. Why, but you are now well enough: how came
you thus recovered?
Gas. It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place
to the devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another,
to make me frankly despise myself. 300
lago. Come, you are too severe a moraler: as the time,
the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could
heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is,
mend it for your own good.
Gas. I will ask him for my
place again; he shall tell me
I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such
an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man,
by and by a fool, and presently a beast O strange Every
! !
inordinate cup is unblessed and the ingredient is a devil.

lago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar crea-
ture, if it be well used exclaim no more against it.
: And,
good lieutenant, I think you think I love you.
Gas. I have well approved it, sir. I drunk!
lago. You or any man living may be drunk at a time,
man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife
is now the general; I ma\^ say so in this respect, for that
he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation,
'
466 OTHELLO. [act i:.
mark, and denotement of her parts and graces confess :
yourself freely to lier importune her help to put jôu in

;
your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt. so

blessed a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness
not to do more than she is requested: this broken joint
between you and her husband entreat her to splinter; and,
my fortunes against any lay worth namicg, this crack of
your love shall grow stronger than it was before. 331
Gas. You advise me well.
lago. I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kind-
ness.
Gas. I thinkit freely; and betimes in the morning I will
beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I
am desperate of my fortunes if Xhej check me here.
lago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I
must to the watch. 340
Gas. Good niglit, honest lago. {Êxit.
lago. And what's he then that says I play the villain?
When this advice is free I give and honest,
Probal to thinking and indeed the course
To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue
In any honest suit: she's framed as fruitful
As the free elements. And then for her
To win the Moor— were't to renounce his baptism.
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin, 350
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love.
That she may make, unmake, do what she list.
Even as her appetite shall play the god
With his weak function. How am I then a villain
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course.
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will the blackest sins put on.
They do suggest at first with heavenly shows.
As I do now: for whiles this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes 360
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,
That she repeals him for her body's lust;
And by how much she strives to do him good.
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch.
And out of her own goodpess make the net
That shall enmesh them all.
Re-enter Rodekigo.
How now, Roderigo
: :
8CENE I.] OTHELLO. 467
Rod. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound

that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. money is My
almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cud-
gelled and I think the issue will be, I shall have so much
;
experience for my pains, and so, with no money at all and

a little more wit, return again to Venice.
lago. How poor are the3^ that liave not patience!
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
Thou knowst we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;
And wit depends on dilatory time.
Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee, 380
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio;
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe
Content thyself awhile. By the mass, 'tis morning.;
Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.
Retire thee go where thou art billeted
;
Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter:

Nay, get thee gone, [Exit Boderigo.] Two things are to
be done;
My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;
her on;
I'll set 390
Myself the while to draw the Moor apart,
And bring him jump when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife ay, that's the way;
;
Dull not device by coldness and delay, {Mcit.
ACT IIL
Scene I. Before the castle.
Enter Cassio and some Musicians.

Cas. Masters, play here; I will content your pains;
Something that's brief; and bid "Good morrow, general."
[Music
Enter Clown.
Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been inlS'aples,

that they speak i' the nose thus?
Iîrst 3Ius. How, sir, how?
Clo. Are pray you, wind-instruments?
these, I
First Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir.
Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.
First Mus. Whereby hangs a tail, sir? 9
Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind-instrument that I know.
But, masters, here's money for you: and t)ê general so
!
468 OTHELLO. [act in.
likes your music, that he desires you, for love's sake, to

make no more noise with it.
First Mus. Well, sir, we will not.
Clo. If you have aDy music that may not be heard, to't
again: but, as they say, to hear music the general does not
greatly care.
First Mus. We have none such, sir.
Then put up your x)ipes
Clo. in your bag, for I'll away:
go vanish into air away
: ; [Exeunt Musicians. 21
Cas. Dost thou hear, my
honest friend?
Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.
Cas. Prithee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece
of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the gen-
eral's wife be stirring, tell her there's one Cassio entreats
her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this?
Clo. She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall
seem to notify unto her. 31
Cas. Do, good friend. my {Eodt Clown.
Enter Iago.
In happy time, Iago.
Iago. You have not been a-bed, then?
Cas. Why, no : the day had broke
Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
To send in to your wife: my suit to her
Is,that she will to virtuous Desdemona
Procure me some access.
Iago. I'll send her to you presently;
And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor
Out of the way, that your converse and business
May be more free. 41
Cas. Ihumbly thank you f or't. [Exit Iago.^1 never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest
Enter Emilia.
Emit. Good morrow, good lieutenant : I am sorry
For your displeasure but all will sure be well.
;
The general and his wife are talking of it;

And she speaks for you stoutly: the Moor replies,
That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus
And great affinity and that in wholesome wisdom
He might not but refuse you, but he protests he loves you
And needs no other suitor but his likings 51
To take the safest occasion by the front
To bring you in again.
Cas. Yet, I beseech you,
If you think fit, or that it may be done.
:
Give me advantage of some brief discourse

With Desdemona alone.
Emil. Pray you, come in;
I will bestowyou where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Cas, I am much bound to you. [Êxeunt.
Scene II. A room in tJie castle.
Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.

0th. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And by him do my duties to the senate
That done, I will be walking on the works;
Repair there to me.
Iago. Well, my good lord, I'll do't.
0th. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't?
Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. {Exeunt.
Scene III. The garden of the castle.
Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia.

Bes. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do
All my abilities in thy behalf.
Emil. Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my hus-
band,
As if tlie case were his.
Des. O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,
But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were.
Gas. Bounteous madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never an}'" thing but your true servant.
Des. I know't; I thank you. You do love my lord: 10
You have known him long; and be you well assured
He shall in strangeness stand no further off
Than in a politic distance.
Gas. Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.
Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here
I give thee warrant of thy place assure thee,
: 20
If I dp vow a friendship, I'll perform it
! ; ;
470 OTHELLO. [act m.
To the last article: my lord shall never rest;

watch him tame and talk him out of patience;
I'll
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'llintermingle every thing he does
With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio:
For thy solicitor shall rather die
Than give thy cause away.
Emil. Madam, here comes my lord.
Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave. 30
Des. Why, stay, and hear me speak.
Cas. Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,
Unfit for mine own purposes.
Des. Well, do your discretion. [Exit Cassio.
Enter Othello and Iago.
lago. Ha I like not that.
!
0th. What dost thou say?

Iago. Nothing, my
lord: or if I know not what.—
0th. Was
not that Cassio parted from wife? my
Iago. Cassio, lord! myNo, sure, I cannot think it,
That he would steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.
0th . I do believe 'twas he. 40
Des. How now, my lord
I have been talking with a suitor here,
A man that languishes in your displeasure.
0th. Who is't you mean?
Des. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
If I have any grace or power to move you.
His present reconciliation take
For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,
I have no judgement in an honest face: 50
I prithee, call him back.
0th. Went he hence now?
Des. Ay, sooth: so humbled
That he hath left part of his grief with me,
To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
OtJi. Net now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.
Des. But shall't be shortly?
0th. The sooner, sweet, for you.
Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?
0th. No, not to-night.
Des. To-morrow
dinner, then ?
0th. I shall not dine at home
I meet the captains at the citadel.
Des. Why, then, to-morrow night or Tuesday morn 60 ; ;
— —— ;
SCENE ni.] OTHELLO. 471
On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:

I prithee, name the time, but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet liis trespass, in our common reason
Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
Out —
of their best is not almost a fault
To incur a private check. When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul.
What you would ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio, 70
That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly.
Hath ta'en your part to have so much to do
;
To bring him in Trust me, I could do much,

!
0th. Prithee, no more: let him come when he will;

I will deny thee nothing.
Des. Why, this is not a boon
'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves.
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,
Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit
To your own person: nay, when I have a suit 80
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poise and difficult weight
And fearful to be granted.
0th. I will deny thee nothing:
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.
Des. Shall I deny you ? no farewell, : lord.my
0th. Farewell, myDesdemona: I'll come to thee straight,
Dss. Emilia, come. Be as jôur fancies teach you;
Whate'er you be, I am obedient.
[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.
0th. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, 90
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.
lago. My noble lord,
Oth. What dost thou say, Tago?
Ia<]o. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady.
Know of your love ?
Oth. He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask?
lago. But for a satisfaction of my thought, lago?
Ko further harm.
Oth. Why
of thy thought, lago?
lago. I did not think he had been acquainted with her.
Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft. 100
logo. Indeed!
! ! !
473 OTHELLO. [act til
0th. Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest?
lago. Honest, my lord
0th. Honest ! ay, honest
lago. My lord, for aught I know.
0th. What dost thou think?
lago. Think, my lord
0th. Think, my lord!
By heaven, he echoes me.
As if there were some monster in histhought
Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something-
I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that,
When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like? 110
And when I told thee he was of my counsel
In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst " Indeed!"
And didst contract and purse thy brow together.
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.
lago. My lord, you know I love 3ôu,
0th. I think thou dost;
And, for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty,
And weigh'st thy words before thougivest them breath,
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more; 120
For such things in a false disloyal knave
Are tricks of custom, but in a man that's just
They are close delations, working from the heart
That passion cannot rule.
lago. For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.
0th. I think so too.
lago. Men should be what they seem;
Or those that be not, would they might seem none!
OtJi. Certain, men should be what they seem.
lago. Why, then, I think Cassio's an honest man.
0th. Nay, yet there's more in this: 130
I prithee, speak to me as to thj^ thinkings.
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words.
lago. Good my lord, pardon me-
Though I am bound to every act of duty,
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;
As Where's that palace whereinto foul thin^^s
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,
But some uncleanly apprehensions
Keep leets and law-days and in session sit 14G
—
With meditations lawful?

0th.Tliou dost conspire against thy friend, lago.
If thou but think'st him. wrong'd and makest his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.
lago. I do beseech you
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy
—
Shapes faults that are not that your wisdom yet,
From one that so imperfectly conceits,
Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble 150
Out of his scattering and unsure observance.
It were not for your quiet nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom.
To let you know my thoughts.
0th. What dost thou mean?
lago. Good name in man and woman, dear my lord.
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him 160
And makes me poor indeed.
0th. By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.
lago. You cannot, if my
heart were in your hand;
Nor shall not^ whilst 'tis in my
custody.
0th. Ha!
lago. O
beware, my
lord, of jealousy;
It is the grecii-e^'ed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves! 170
0th. O
misery!
laô. Poor and content is rich and rich enough,
But riches fineless is as poor as winter
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
Good heaven, the souls of all my
tribe defend
From jealousy!
0th. Why, why is this?
Think'st thou I'll make a life of jealousy;
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat, 180
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
>*^tc.aing thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous
— —
474 OTHELLO. [act hi.
To say ray wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,

Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, lago;
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; 190
And on the proof, there is no more but this,^
Away once with love or jealousy!
at
lago. Iam glad of it; for now I shall have reason
To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit, therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure •
I would not have your free and noble nature,

Out of self-bounty, be abused look to't» ; 200
I know our country disposition well;
In Venice tlicy do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show ther husbands; their best conscience
Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.
Gth. Dost thou say so?
lago. She did deceive her father, marrying you;
And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks,
She loved them most.
0th. And so she did.
lago. Why, go to then;
She that, so young, could give out such a seeming.
To seel her father's eyes up close as oak 210
He thought —
'twas Mdtchcraft but I am much to blame;
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
For too much loving you.
Oih. I am bound to thee for ever.
lago. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.
0th. Not a jot, not a jot.
lago. V faith, I fear it has,
I hope you will consider what is spoke
Comes from my love. But I do see you're moved:
I am to pray you not to strain my speech
To grosser issues nor to larger reach
Than to suspicion. 220
0th. I will not.
lago. Should you do so, lord. my
My speech should fall into such vile success
As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend
My lord, I see you're moved.
— — —— —
: —
0th. No, not much moved:

I do not think but Desdemona's honest.
lago. Long live slie so! and loug live you to think so!
0th. And yet, liow nature erring from itself,
lago. Ay, there's the point: as —
to be bold with you
Not to affect many proposed matches
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree, 230
Whereto we see in all things nature tends
Foil! one may smell in such a will most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.
But pardon me I do not in position
;
Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear

Her will, recoiling to her better judgement,
May fall to match you with her country forms
And happily repent.
Otli. Farewell, farewell
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more:
Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, lago. 240
lago. YGroiiig] My lord, I take my leave.
0th. Why did I marry?
This honest creature doubtless
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.
lago. [Returning'] My lord, I would I might entreat your
honour
To scan thing no further; leave it to time:
this
Though be fit that Cassio have his place,
it
For, sure, he fills it up with great ability,
Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment 250
With any strong or vehement importunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears
As worthy cause I have to fear I am
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
0th. Fear not my government. [Exit.
lago. I once more take my leave.
0th. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard, 360
Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings,
I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind,
To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black
And Iiave not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have, or for I am declined
She's gone.
—
Into the vale of years, yet that's not much
I am abused; and my relief
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,
! : —
476 OTHELLO. [act m.
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites I had rather be a toad,
! 270
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love
For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones;
Prerogatived are they less than the base;
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:
Even then this forked plague is fated to us
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:
Re-enter Desdemona and Emilia.
If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!
I'll not believe't.
Des. How
now, my dear Othello!
Your dinner, and the generous islanders 880
By you invited, do attend your presence.
0th. I am to blame
Des. Why
do you speak so faintly?
Are you not well ?
0th. I have a pain upon forehead here.my
Des. 'Faith, that's with watchmg; 'twill away again:
Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
It will be well.
0th. Your napkin is too little
[He puts the handkerchief from him; and it drops.
Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.
Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.
[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.
Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin; 290
This was her remembrance from the Moor:
first
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token.
For he conjured her she should ever keep it,
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give't lago: what he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I;
I nothing but to please his fantasy.
Be-enter Iago.
lago. How
now! what do you here alone? dUO
Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.
lago. A
thing for me? it is a common thing
Emil. Ha!
lago. To have a foolish wife,
Emil. O, is that all? What will you give me now
For that same handkerchief?
: !
ecENE ni.] OTHELLO. 477
lago. What handkerchief?

Emil. What handkerchief!
Why, that the Moor first gave to Desderaona;
That whicli so often you did bid me steal,
lago. Hast stol'n it from her? 310
Emil. No, 'faith she let it drop by negligence,
;
And, to the advantage, I, being here, took't up.

Look, here it is.
lago. A
good wench give it me. ;
Emil. What will you do witli't, that you have been so

earnest
To have me filch it?
lago. [Sfiaiching it] Why, what's that to you?
Emil. If it be not for some purpose of Import,
Give't me again poor lady, she'll run mad
:
When she shall lack it,

lago. Be not acknown on't; I have use for it.
Go, leave me. [Exit Emilia.^ 330
I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,
And let him find it. Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmation strong
As proofs of holy writ: this may do something.
The Moor already changes with my poison
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons.
Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,
But with a little act upon the blood,
Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so:
Look, where he comes!
Be-enter Othello.
Not poppy, nor mandragora, 330
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, .
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep

Which thou owedst yesterday.
0th. Ha! ha! false tome?
lago. Whj^ how now, general! no more of that.
Oi/i. Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack:
I swear 'tis better to be much abused
Than but to know't a little.
logo. now, my lord
How
0th. What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust?
I saw't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:
I slept the next night well, was free and merry; 340
I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips:
He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n.
Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all.
logo. I am sorry to hear this.
— ! ! !
Otli. I had been happy, if the general camp.

Pioneers and all, had tasted lier sweet body,
So I had nothing known. O, now, forever
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars,
That make ambition virtue! O, farewell 350
Farewell the neigliing steed, and the slirill trump.
The drum, the ear-piercing fife.
spirit-stirring
The royal banner, and all quality.
Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!
And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,
Farewell !Othello's occupation's gone
lago. Is't possible, lord? my
0th. Villain, be sure thou prove my
love a whore,
Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof; 860
Or, by the worth of man's eternal soul.
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog ,
Than answer my waked wrath!

lago. Is't come to this?
0th. Make me to see't; or, at the least, so prove it.
That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
To hang a doubt on or woe upon thy life!
;
lago. Mynoble lord,

Oih. If thou dost slander her and torture me^
Never pray more; abandon remorse;all
On horror's head horrors accumulate; 370
Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed;-
For nothing canst thou to damnation add
Greater than that.
lago, O grace O heaven forgive me
!
Are you a man? have you a soul or sense?

God be wi' you; take mine office. O wretched fool,
That livest to make thine honesty a vice!
monstrous world Take note, take note, O world,
!
To be direct and honest is not safe,

1 thank you for this profit; and from hence
I'll love no friend, sith love breeds such offence, 880
0th. Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest.
lago. I should be wise, for honesty's a fool
And loses that it works for,
Otn. By the world,
I think mywife be honest and think she is notj
I think thou art just and think thou art not,
I'll have some proofs. Her name that was as fresh
As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black
As mine own face. If there be cords, or knivea.
— :
Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,

I'llnot endure it. Would I were satisfied! 390
lago, I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion
I do repent me that I put it to you.
You would be satisfied?
OtK Would! nay, I will.
lago. And may: but, how? how satisfied, my lord?
Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on
Behold her topp'd?
0th. Death and damnation! O!
were a tedious difiiculty, I think,
lago. It
To bring them to that prospect: damn them then,
If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster
More than their own What then? how then?
! 400
What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?
It is impossible you should see this,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I sa}^.
If imputation and strong circumstances,
Which lead directly to the door of truth.
Will give 3ôu satisfaction, you may have't.
Otli. Give me a living reason she's disloyal.
lago. I do not like the office: 410
But, sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,
Prick'd to't by foolish honesty and love,
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately;
And, being troubled with a raging tooth,
I could not sleep.
There are a kind of men so loose of soul,
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs:
One of this kind is Cassio:
In sleep I heard him say " Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;" 420
And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,
Cry " O sweet creature!" and then kiss me hard,
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots
And grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sigh'd and kiss'd; and then,
Cried ""Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!"
0th. O monstrous! monstrous!
lago. Nay, this was but his dream.
0th. But this denoted a foregone conclusion:
'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.
lago. And this may help to thicken other proofs 430
That do demonstrate thinly.
OtK I'll tear her all to pieces.
; ! —
480 OTHELLO. [act m,
lago. Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done;

She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,
Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief
Spotted with strawberries in your wife's hand?
0th. I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift,
lago. I know not that: but such a handkerchief
—
I am sure it was your wife's did I to-day
See Cassio wipe his beard with,
OtJi. If it be that,—
lago. If it be that, or any that was hers, 440
It speaks against her with the other proofs.
0th. O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!
One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.
Now do I see 'tis true. Look here, lago
my
All fond love thus do I blow to heaven.
'Tis gone.
Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell
Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne
To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,
For 'tis of aspics' tongues!
lago. Yet be content. 450
Oih. O, blood,. blood, blood!
lago. Patience, I say your mind perhaps may change.
;
oih. Never, lago. Like to the Pontic sea,

Whose icy current and compulsive course
Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
To the Propontic and the Hellespont,
Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,
Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,
Till that a capable and wide revenge
Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven, 460
[Kneels] In the due reverence of a sacred vow
I here engage my words.
lago. Do not rise yet,
[Kneelfi] Witness, you ever-burning lights above,
You elements that clip us round about,
Witness that here lago doth give up
The execution of his wit, hands, heart,
To wrong'd Othello's service! Let him command.
And to obey shall be in me remorse.
What bloody business ever. [They rise.
0th. I greet thy love.
Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous, 470
And will upon the instant put thee to't:
Within these three days let me hear Ihee say
That Cassio's not alive.
:
SCENE IT.] OTHELLO. 481
lago. My friend is dead ; 'tis done at your request

But let her live.
0th. Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw.
To furnish me with some swift means of death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.
lago. I am your own for ever. {Exeunt.
Scene IY. Before the castle.
Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown.

Des. Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio
lies?
Clo. I dare not say he lies any where.
Des. Why, man?
Clo. He's a soldier, and for one to say a soldier lies, is
stabbing.
Des. Go to: where lodges he?
Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where
I lie.
Des. Can any thing be made of this? 10
Clo. I know not where he lodges, and for me to devise a
lodging and say he lies here or he lies there, were to lie in
mine own throat.
Des. Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report?
Clo. I will catechize the world for him; that is, make
questions, and by them answer.
Des. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him I have
moved my lord on his behalf, and hope all will be well. 20
Clo. To do this is within the compass of man's wit and ;
therefore I will attempt the doing it. \_Exit.

Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?
Emil. I know not, madam.
Des. Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse
Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor
Is true of mind and made of no such baseness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough
To put him to ill thinking.
Emil. Is he not jealous?
Des. Who, he? I think the sun where he was born 30
Drew all such humours from him.
Emil. Look, where he comes.
Des. I will not leave him now till Cassio
Be call'd to him.
Ent£r Othello.
How is't with you, my lord ?
SHAK. in. —18
— ; ;
Otli. Well, my good lady. [Âside] O, hardness to dis-

semble !
How do you, Desdemona?

Des. Well, my good lord.
0th. Give me your hand: this hand is moist, my lady.
Des. It yet hath felt no age nor known no sorrow.
OtJi. This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart:
Hot, hot, and moist: this hand of jôurs requires
A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer, 40
Much castigation, exercise devout;
For here 's a young and sweating devil here.
That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand,
A frank one.
Des. You may, indeed, say so
For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart.
0th. A
liberal hand, the hearts of old gave hands;
But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.
Des. I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise.
0th. What
promise, chuck?
Des. I have sent to bid Oassio come speak with you. 50
Otli. I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me
Lend me thy handkerchief.
Des. Here, my lord.
0th. That which I gave you.
Des. I have it not about me.
0th. Not?
Des. No, indeed, my lord,
0th. That is a fault.
That handkerchief
Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
She was a charmer, and could almost read
The thoughts of people: she told her, while she kept it,
Twould make her amiable and subdue my father

Entirely to her love, but if she lost it 60
Or made a gift of my
father's eye
it,
Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt

After new fancies: she, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my
fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so: and take heed on't;
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose't or give't away were such perdition
As nothing else could match.
Des. Is't possible?
0th. 'Tis true: there's magic in the web of it:
A sibyl, that had number'd in the world 70
The sun to course two hundred compasses,
In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;
:
SCENE lY.] OTHELLO. 483
The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk;

And it was dyed in mummy which the skilful
Conserved of maidens' hearts.
Des. Indeed! is't true?
0th. Most veritable therefore look to't well.
;
Des. Then would to God that I had never seen't!

0th. Ha! wherefore?
Des. Why
do yoii speak so startingly and rash?
0th. Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out o' the way? 80
Des. Heaven bless us!
0th. Say you?
Des. It is not lost; but what an if it were?
0th. Howl
Des. I say, it is not lost.
0th. Fetch't, let me see't.
Des. Why,
so I can, sir, but I will not now.
This is a trick to put me from my suit
Pray you. let Cassio be received again.
0th. Fetch me the handkerchief: mind misgives.my
Des. Come, come; 90
You'll never meet a.more sufficient man.
0th. The handkerchief!
Des. I pray, talk me of Cassio.
Des. A man that all his time
Hath founded his good fortunes on your love,
Shared dangers with you, —
Des. In sooth, you are to blame.
0th. Away!
Emit. Is not this man jealous?
Des. I ne'er saw this before. 100
Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief:
I am most unhappy in the loss of it.
Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man:
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full,
They belch us. Look you, Cassio and my husband!
Enter Cassio and Iago.
lago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't:
And, lo, the happiness! go, and importune her.
Des. How now, good Cassio! what's the news with you?
Gas. Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you 110
That by your virtuous moans I may again
Exist, and be a member of his love
Whom I with all the office of my heart
'
484 OTHELLO. [act i...
Entirely honour: I would not be delay 'd.

If my offence be of such mortal kind
That nor my service past, nor present sorrows,
Nor purposed merit in futurity,
Can ransom me into his love again.
But to know so must be my benefit;
So shall I clothe me in a forced content, 120
And shut myself up in some other course,
To fortune's alms.
Des, Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio!
My advocation is not now in tune;
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
"Were he in favour as in humour alter'd.
So help me every spirit sanctified,
As I have spoken for you all my best
And stood within the blank of his displeasure
For my free speech! you must awhile be patient:
What I can do I will; and more I will 130
Than for myself I dare let that suflace you.
:
lago. Is my
lord angry?
Emil. He went hence but now,
And certainly in strange unquietness.
lago. Can he be angry ? I have seen the cannon,
"When it hath blown his ranks into the air,
And, like the devil, from his very arm
—
Puff'd his own brother: and can he be angry?
Something of moment then: I will go meet him:
There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.
Des. I prithee, do so. \Êxit lago.
Something, sure, of state, 140
Either from Venice, or some unhatch'd practice
Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,
Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in such cases
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things.
Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so;
For let our finger ache, and it indues
Our other healthful members even to that sense
Of pain: nay, we must think men are not gods,
Nor of them look for such observances
As fit Beshrew me much, Emilia,
the bridal. 150
I was, unhandsome warrior as I am,
Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
But now I find I had suborn'd the witness.
And he's indicted falsely.
Emil. Pray heaven it be state-matters, as you think,
And no conception nor no jealous toj
Concerning you.
! ; —
: ! : :
SCENE IV.] OTHELLO. 485
Des. Alas the day I never gave him cause.

!
Emil. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so;

They are not ever jealous for the cause, 160
But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster
Begot upon born on itself.
itself,
Des. Heaven keep
that monster from Othello's mind!
Emil. Lady, amen.
Des. I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout
If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit
And seek to effect it to my uttermost.
Gas. I humbly thank your ladyship,
Enter Bianca.
Bian. Save you, friend Cassio
Gas. What make you from home?
How is it with you, my
most fair Bianca? 170
r faith, I was coming to your house.
sweet love,
Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
What, keep a week away? seven days and nights?
Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,
More tedious than the dial eight score times?
weary reckoning!
Gas. Pardon me, Bianca:
1 havethis while with leaden thoughts been press'd;
But I shall, in a more continuate time,
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
[Giving her Desdemona' s handkerchief.
Take me this work out.
Bian. O Cassio, whence came this? 180
This is some token from a newer friend:
To the felt absence now I feel a cause:
Is't come to this? Well, well.
Gas. Go to, woman
Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth.
From whence you have them. You are jealous now
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance
No, in good troth, Bianca.
Bian. Why, whose is it?
Gas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber.
I like the work well: ere it be demanded
—
As like enough it will I'ld have it copied 190
Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time.
Bian. Leave you! wherefore?
Gas. I do attend here on the general
And think it no addition, nor my wishî
To have him see me woman'd.
— — ! : !
486 OTHELLO. [act it.
Bian. Why, I pray you ?

Cas. Not that I love you not.
Bian. But that you do not love me.
I pray you, bring me on the vsây a little,
And say if I shall see you soon at night.
Cas. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you;
For I attend here: but I'll see you soon. 200
Bian. 'Tis very good I must be circumstanced. \_Exeunt.
;
ACT IV.
Scene I. Cyprus. Before the castle.
Enter Othello and Iago.
lago. Will you think so?

0th. Think so, lago
lago. What,
To kiss in private?
0th. An
unauthorized kiss.
lago. Or to be naked with her friend in bed
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
0th. Naked in bed, lago, and not mean harm
It is hypocrisy against the devil:
They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,
The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.
lago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:
But if I give my wife a handkerchief, 10
0th. What tlien?
lago. Why, then, 'tis hers, my lord ; and, being hers.
She may, I think, bestow't on any man.
0th. She is protectress of her honour too
May she give that?
lago.Her honour is an essence that's not seen;
They have it very oft that have it not:
But, for the handkerchief,
0th. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.
—
Thou said'st O, it comes o'er my memorj^, 20
As doth the raven o'er the infected house.
—
Boding to all he had my handkerchief.
lago. Ay, what of that?
0th. That's not so good now.
lago. What,
If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?
Or heard him say, —
as knaves be such abroad,
Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Or ''oluntary dotage of some mistress,
— • ! !
Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose

But they must blab
—
0th. Hath he said any thing?
lago. He hath, my lord; but be you well assured, 3^
No more than he'll unswear.
Oth. What hath he said?
—
lago. 'Faith, that he did I know not what he did. ,
0th. What? what?

lago. Lie
0th. With her?
lago. With her, on her; what you will,
0th. Lie with her lie on her! ! We
say lie on her, when
they belie her. Lie with her! that's fulsome.— Handker-
— —
chief confessions handkerchief To confess, and be
! —
—
hanged for his labour; first, to be hanged, and then to
confess. —
I tremble at it. Nature would not invest her-
self in such shadowing passion without some instruction.
It is not words that shake me thus. Pish Noses, ears, !
— —
and lips. Is't possible ? Confess handkerchief — O devil !
—
\_Falls in a trance.
lago. Work on,
My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught;
And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,
All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! lord! my
My lord, I say! Othello!
Enter Cassio.
How now, Cassio
Gas. What's the matter? * 50
lago. My lord into an epilepsy:
is fall'n
This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
Gas. Rub him about the temples.
lago. No, forbear;
The lethargy must have his quiet course:
If not, he foams at mouth and by and by
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs:
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
He will recover straight: when he is gone,
Iwould on great occasion speak with you. [Êxit Gassio.
How is it, general? have jôu not hurt your head? GO
0th. Dost thou mock me?
lago. I mock you no, by heaven. !
Would you would bear your fortune like a man!

0th. A horned man's a monster and a beast.
lago. There's many a beast then in a populous city.
And many a civil monster.
OtK Did he confess it?
— ; —
4S8 OTHELLO. [act n^
lago. Good sir, be a man;

Think every bearded fellow that's but yoked
May draw with you there's millions now alive
:
Tliat nightly liein those unproper beds

Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is better, 70
O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,
To lip a wanton in a secure couch,
And to suppose her chaste No, let me know
!
And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.

0th. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.
lago. Stand you awhile apart ,-
Confine yourself but in a patient list.

Whilst you were here o'erwhelmed with your grief
A passion most unsuiting such a man
Cassio came
hither: I shifted him away,
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy, 80
Bade him anon return and here speak with me;
The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns,
That dwell in every region of his face;
For I will make him tell th6 tale anew.
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your wife:
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen.
And nothing of a man.
0th. Dost thou hear, lago? 90
found most cunning in my patience;
I will be
—
But— dost tliou hear? most bloody.
lago. That's not amiss;
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
[Ôthello retires.
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
A housewife that by selling her desires
Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature
That dotes on Cassio as 'tis the strumpet's plague
;
To beguile many and be beguiled by one:

He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
From the excess of laughter. Here he comes: 100
Re-enter Cassio.
As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
And his unbookish jealousy must construe
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures and light behaviour,
Quite in tiie wrong. How
do you now, lieutenant?
Cas. The worser that you give me the addition
Whose wnnt even kills me.
— :
BCENE I.] OTHELLO. 489
lago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on't.

[Spealcing lower] Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power,
How quickly should you speed!
Cas. Alas, poor caitiff!
0th. Look, how he laughs already! 110
lago. I never knew woman love man so.
Gas. Alas, poor rogue! I think, i' faith, she loves me.
0th. Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.
lago. Doyou hear, Cassio?
0th. Now
he importunes him
To tell it o'er: go to; well said, well said.
lago. She gives it out that you shall marry her
Do you intend it?
Cas. Ha, ha, ha! 120
0th. Do
you triumph, Roman? do you triumph?
Cas. I marry her! what? a customer! Prithee, bear
some charity to my
wit; do not think it so unwholesome.
Ha, ha, ha!
0th. So. so, so, so they laugh that win.
:
lago. 'Faith, the cry goes that you shall marry her.
Cas. Prithee, say true.
lago. I am
a very villain else.
Oih. Have you scored me? Well. 130
Cas. This is the monkey's own giving out: she is per-
suaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery,
not out of my promise.
0th. lago beckons me; now he begins the story.
Cas. She was here even now; she haunts me in every
place. I was the other day talking on the sea-bank with
certain Venetians; and thither comes the bauble, and, by
this hand, she falls me thus about my neck 140
0th. Crying "O dear Cassio!" as it were: his gesture
imports it.
Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me so hales,
;
and pulls me: ha, ha, ha!

0th. Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber.
O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw
it to.
Cas. Well, I must leave her company.
lago. Before me! look, where she comes. 150
Cas. 'Tis such another fitchew marry, a perfumed one.
!
Enter Bianca.
What do you mean by haunting of me?
this
dam haunt you What did
Bian. Let the devil and his !
you mean b}'- that same handkerchief you gave me even

now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the
— ! !
490 OTHELLO. [act iv.
work? —
A likely piece of work, that you should find it in
your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is
some minx's token, and I must take out the work? There;
give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, I'll take
out no work on't. 161
Gas. How now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how now!
0th. By heaven, that should be my handkerchief!
Bian. An
you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an
you will not, come when you are next prepared for. [Exit.
lago. After her, after iier. 170
Gas. 'Faith, I must; she'll rail in the street else.
lago. Will you sup there?
Gas. 'Faith, I intend so.
lago. Well, I may chance to see you: for I would very
fain speak with you.
Cas. Prithee, come; will you?
lago. Go to say no more.
; \Exit Gassio.
0th. [Advancing] How
shall I murder him, lago? ISO
lago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?
0th. O lago!
'
lago. And did you see the hankerchief ?

0th. Was that mine?
lago. Yours, by this hand and to see how he prizes the
:
foolish woman your wife! she gave it him, and he hath

given it his whore.
0th. I would have him nine jêars a-killing. fine wo- A
man! a fair woman! a sweet woman!
lago. Nay, you must forget that. 190
0th. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night;
for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I
strike it, and it hurts my
hand. O, the world hath not a
sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor's side and
command him tasks.
lago. Nay, that's not your way.
0th. Hang her! I do but say what she is: so delicate
with her needle an admirable musician O she will sing
: : !
the savageness out of a bear: of so high and plenteous wit

and invention: 201
lago. She's the worse for all this.
OtA. O, a thousand thousand times: and then, of so
gentle a condition
lago. Ay, too gentle.
Oih. Nay, that's certain: but yet the pity of it, lago! O
lago, the pity of it, lago
lago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her pa-
tent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near no-
body. 210
! ' !
0th. I will chop her into messes cuckold me :
lago. O, 'tis foul in her.

0th. With mine officer!
lago. That's fouler.
0th. Get me some poison, lago; this night: I'll not ex-
postulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my
mind again: this night, lago. 219
lago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even
the bed she hath contaminated.
0th. Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.
lago. And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you shall
hear more by midnight.
0th. Excellent good. [A trumpet within.^ What trumpet
is that same?
lago. Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico
Come from the duke and, see, your wife is with him,
:
Enter Lodovico, DESDE^roNA, and Attendants.

Loci. Save you, worthy general!
OtJi. With all my heart, sir.
Loci. The dmke and senators of Venice greet you
l^G-ives him a letter.
Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.
[Ôpens the letter, and reads,
Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?
Lago. I am very glad to see you, signior;
Welcome to Cyprus.
Loci. I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?
'Lago. Lives, sir.
L>es.Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord
An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.
Oth. Are you sure of that?
Les. My lord? —" 240
Oth. [Beads] " This fail you not to do, as you will
Lod. He
did not call; he's busy in the paper.
Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio?
L)es. A most unhappy one: I would do much
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.
Oth. Fire and brimstone
Des. My lord?
Oth. Are you wise ?
L>es. What, is he angry?
Lod. May be the letter moved him?
For, as I think, they do command him -home,
Deputing Cassio in his government.
Lfes. Trust me, I am glad on't.
Otii. Indeed 1
! —
Des. My lord?
0th, I am glad to see you mad.
Des. Why, sweet Othello,— 250
0th. [Striking her] Devil!
Des. I have not deserved this.
Lod. My
lord, this would not be believed in Venice,
Though I should swêar I saw't: 'tis very much:
Make her amends ; she weeps.
0th. O devil, devil!
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
Out of my sight!
Des. I will not stay to offend you. [Going.
Lod. Truly, an obedient lady:
I do beseech your lordship, call her back. 260
0th. Mistress!
Des. My lord?
0th. What would you with her, sir?
Lod. Who, I, my lord?
Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn:
0th.
Sir,she can turn, and turn, and yet go on.
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;
And she's obedient, as you say, obedient,
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.
—
Concerning this, sir, O well-painted passion!
I am commanded Get you away;
home.
I'll send for you anon. obey the mandate,
Sir, I 270
And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt! .
[Exit Desdemona.
Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night,
I do entreat that we may sup together:
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys! —
[Exit.
Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate
Is this the nature
Call all in all sufficient?
Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue
The shot of accident, nor dart of chance,
Could neither graze nor pierce?
lago. He is much changed.
Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? 280
Lago. He's that he is I may not breathe my censure
:
What he might ])e : if what he might he is not,

I would to heaven he were
Lod. What, strike his wife!
Lago. 'Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew
That stroke would prove the worst!
Lod. Is it his use?
SCENE II.] OTHELLO. 193
Or did the letters work upon his blood.

And new-create this fault?
lago. Alas, alas!
It isnot honesty in me to speak
What I have seen and known. You shall observe him.
And his own courses will denote him so 290
That I may save my speech do but go after,
:
And mark how he continues.

Lod. I am sorry that I am deceived in him. [E^c.nt.
Scene II. A room in the castle.

Enter Othello and Emilia.
0th. You
have seen nothing, then?
Emil. Nor
ever heard, nor ever did suspect.
0th. Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
Emil. But then I saw no harm, and then I heard
Each syllable that breath made up between them.
0th. What, did they never whisper?
Emil. Never, my lord.
0th. Nor send you out o' the way?
Emil. Never.
0th. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?
Emil. Never, my lord. 10
0th. That's strange.
Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest.
Lay down my soul at stake if you think other.
:
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.

If any wretch have put this in your head.
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse 1
For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true.

There's no man happy; the purest of their wives
Is foul as slander.
0th. Bid her come hither: go. {Exit Emilia.
She says enough; yet she's a simple baw^d 20
That cannot say as much This is a subtle whore,
A closet lock and key of villanous secrets:
And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.
Enter Desdemona with Emilia.
Des. My lord, what is your will?
0th. Pray, chuck, come hither.
Des. What is your pleasure?
0th. Let me see your e3ês;
Look in my face.
Des. What horrible fancy's this?
—
494 ' OTHELLO. [act iy.
0th. \_To Emilia] Some of your function, mistress;

Leave procreants alone and shut the door;
Cough, or cry "hem," if any body come:
Your mystery, your mystery nay, dispatch, : 30
[Exit Emilia,
Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?
I understand a fury in your words.
But not the Avords.
0th. Why, what art thou?
iJes. Your wife, my lord ;
your true
And loyal wife.
0th. Come, swear it, damn thyself;
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double damn'd:
Swear thou art honest.
Des. Heaven doth truly know it.
0th. Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.
Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?40
0th. ODesdemona! away! away! away!
Des. Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?
Am I the motive of these tears, lord? my
If haply you my
father do suspect
An instrument of this your calling back.
Lay not your blame on me: if you have lost him,
Why, I have lost him too.
OtJi. Had it pleased heaven
To try me with had thej^ rain'd
affliction;
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head,
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips, *
50
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,
I should have found in some place of my soul
A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me
f A fixed figure for the time of scorn
To point his slow unmoving finger at!
Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd up my heart,
Where either I must live, or bear no life;
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence! 60
Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads
To knot and gender in Turn thy complexion there,
!
Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,

Ay, there, look grim as hell!
Des. I hope my
noble lord esteems me honest.
Oth. O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles,
That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,
Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet
!
That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er heen
born!
what ignorant în have I committed?
Des. Alas, 70
0th. Was most goodly book.
this fair paper, this
Made to write "whore" upon? What committed!
Committed! O thou public commoner!
I should make very forges of my cheeks,
That would burn up modesty,
to cinders
Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed!
Heaven stops the nose at it and the moon winks,
The bawdy wind that kisses all it meets
Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth.
And will not hear it. What committed! 80
Impudent strumpet!
Bes. By heaven, you do me wrong.
OtJi. Are not you a strumpet?
Des. No, as I am a Christian:
If to preserve this vessel for lord my
From any other foul unlawful touch
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.
0th. What, not a whore?
Des. No, as I shall be saved.
0th. Is't possible?
Des. O, heaven forgive us!
0th. I cry you mercy, then:
I took you for that cunning whore of Venice
That married with Othello. [Raising his voice'] You, mis-
tress, 90
That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,
And keep the gate of hell
Re-enter Emilia.
You, you, ay, you!

We have done our course; there's money for your pains.
I pray you, turn the key and keep our counsel. [Exit,
Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?
How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady?
Des. 'Faith, half asleep.
Emil. Groodmadam, what's the matter with my lord?
Des. With who?
Emil. Why, with my lord, madam. 100
Des. Who is thy lord?
Emil. He that is yours, sweet lady.
Des. I have none: do not talk to me, Emilia;
Icannot weep nor answer have I none.
;
But what should go by water. Prithee, to-night

! !
496 OTHELLO. [act it.
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember;

And call thy husband hithe^.
Emil. Here's a change indeed ! [Êxit.
Des. 'Tis meet I should be
used so, very meet.
How have I been behaved, that he might stick
The small'st opinion on my least misuse?
Be-enter Emilia with Iago.
lago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with

you? 110
J)6S. Icannot tell. Those that do teach young babes
Do it with gentle means and easy tasks:
He might have chid me so for, in good faith,
;
I am a child to chiding.
Iago. What's the matter, lady?
EmiL Alas, Iago, my lord hath so be whored her,
Throw^n such despite and heavy terms upon her.
As true hearts cannot bear.
Des. Am
I that name, Iago?
Iago. What name, fair lady?
Des. Such as she says my lord did say I was.
Einil. He call'd her whore: a beggar in his drink 120
Could not have laid such terms upon his callat.
Iago. Why
did he so?
Des. I do not know I am sure I am none such.
;
Iago. Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day!

Emil. Hath she forsook so many noble matches,
Her father and her country and her friends.
To be whore? would it not make one weep?
call'd
Des. It is my
wretched fortune.
Iago. Beshrew him f or't
How comes this trick upon him?
Des. Nay, heaven doth know.
Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, 130
Some busy and insinuating rogue,
Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office.
Have not devised this slander; I'll be hang'd else.
lago. Fie, there is no such man it is impossible.
;
Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him

Emil. A
halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones!
Why call her whore? who keeps her company?
should he
What place? what time? what form? what likelihood?
The Moor's abused by some most villanous knave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.
O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst unfold,
And put in every honest hand a whip
— ; '
To lash the rascals naked through the world

Even, from the east to the west!
lago. Speak within door.
Emil. O, fie upon them !Some such squire he was
That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,
And made you to suspect me with the Moor,
lago. You are a fool; go to.
Bes, Ogood lago,
What shall I do to win my lord again?
Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven, 150
I know^ not how I lost him. Here I kneel:
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love,
Either in discourse of thought or actual deed.
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense.
Delighted them in any other form
Or that I do not yet, and ever did.
—
And ever will though he do shake me off
—
To beggarly divorcement love him dearly.
Comfort forswear me ! Unkindness may do much;:
And his unkindness may defeat my life, 160
But never taint my love. I cannot say "whoref
It doth abhor me now I speak the word-
To do the act that might the addition earn
Not the world's mass of Tanity could mak-e me.
lago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour:
The business of the state does him offence.
And he does chide with you,
De§. If ^twere no other,
lago. 'Tis but so, I warrant.
[IVumpets within.
Hark, how these instruments summon to supper]
The messengers of Venice stay the meat: 170
Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.
Enter Rodeeigo,
How now, Eoderigo!

Rod. I do not find that thou dealest justly with me.
lago. What in the contrary?
Rod. Every day thou daffest me with some device, lago;
and i-ather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me all
conveniency than suppliest me with the least advantage of
hope. I will indeed no longer endure it, nor am I yet per-
suaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly
suffered.
lago. Will you hear me, Roderigo?
Bod. 'Faith, I have heard too much, for your words

and performances are no kin together.
lago. You charge me most nnjnstly.
Bod, With noaglit but truth. I have wasted myself out
of my means. The Jewels you have had from me to
deliver toI>esdemona would half have corrupted a votarist:
you have told me she hath received them and returned
me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and ac-
quaintance, but I find none.
lago.. Well go to very well.
;
;
Bod. Yery well! go to! I cannot go to, man- nor ''tis not
very well nay, I think it is scurvy, and begin to find my-
:
self fobbed in it.,
lago. Yery well,.

Bod^ I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself
known to Desdemona: if she will return me my jewels, I
will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation;
if not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you.
lago.. Yoû have said now..
Bod^ Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intend-
ment of doing.
lago.. Why^, now I see there^s mettle in thee, and even
from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than
ever before. Give me thy hand, Koderigo: thou hast
taken against me a most just exception:, but yet, I protest, '
I have dealt most directly in thy affair.

Bad.. It hath not appeared..
lago^ I grant indeecl it hath not appeared, and your sus-
picion is not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo,
if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater rea-
son to believe now than ever, I mean purpose, courage and
valour, this night show it: if thou the next night following
enjoy not. Desdemona, take me from this world with
treachery and devise engines for my life.
Bod. Well, what is it? is it within reason and compass?
lago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Yen-
ice to depute Cassio in Othello's place.
Bod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona
return again to Yenice.
lago.. O, no; he goes into Mauritania and takes away
with hirh the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered
here by some accident wherein none can be so determin-
:
ate as the removing of Cassio.

Bod. How do you mean, removing of him?
lago.. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's
place; knocking out his brains.
Bod.. And that you would have me to^ do?
— :!
SCENE III.] OTHELLO, 499
Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right.

lago..
He sups to-night with a Jbiarlotry, and thither will I go to
him: he knows not yet of his honourable fortune. If you
will wateh his going thence, which I will fashion to fall
out between twelve and one, you may take him at joux
pleasure: I will be near to second your attempt, and he
shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but
go along with me.; I will show you such a necessity in his
death that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him.
It is now high supper-time, and the night grows to waste
about it 350
Rod. I will hear further reason for this,
lago. And you shall be satisfied. Êmunt,
Scene HI. Another room in the castle.
Enter Othello, Lodotico, Desdemona, Emilia, ^tz,^ At-

tendants,
Lad. I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further.
0th. O, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk,
Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly Jthank your lady-
ship.
2)es. Your honour is most welcome,
0th. Will you walk, sir?
O, — Desdemona,
Bes. My lord?
you t© bed on the instant; I will be returned
0th. G-et
forthwith: dismiss your attendant there; look it be .done.
Dcs. I will, my lord. 10
\Êxeunt Othello, Lodomco, and Attendants^
Emil. How
goes it now? he looks gentler -than he did.
Des. He says he will return incontinent:
He hath commandeth me to go to bed,
And bade me to. dismiss you.
Emil. Dismiss me
Des. It was his bidding therefore, good Emilia,,
;
Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu

We must not now displease him.
Emil. I would you had never'seen him!
Bes. So would not I; my love doth so ax>prove Mm,
That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns, 20 —
Prithee, unpin me, —
have grace and favour in them.
Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.
Des. All's one. Good faith, how foolish are our mindsl
If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me.
In one of those same sheets.
—; — — ; —
500 OTHELLO. [act iy.
Emil Come, come, you talk.

Bes. My mother had
a maid call'd Barbara:
She was in love, and he she loved proved mad
And did forsake her she had a song of willow ;"
:
'
'
An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune.

And she died singing it that song to-night : SO
Will not go from my mind; I have much to do.
But to go hang my
head all at one side,
And sing it like poor Barbara, Prithee, dispatch.
Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?
Bes. No, unpin me here.
This Lodovico is a proper man.
EmiL A very handsome man.
Ben. He speaks well.
Emil. I know a lady in Venice would have walked bare-
foot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip. 40
Bes. [^Singing'] The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore
tree.
Sing all a green willow;
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee.
Sing willow, willow, willow:
The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her
moans
Sing willow, willow, willow;
Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones;
Lay by these :
[Singing'] Sing wallow, willow, willow;

Prithee, hie thee he'll come anon
; 50 :
{Singing] Sing all a green willow must be garland. my

Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve,—
—
Nay, that's not next. Harkl who is't that knocks?
Emil. It's the wind,
Bes. [Singi?ig^ I call'd my
love false love ; but what said
he then?
Sing willow, willow, willow:
If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe men.
So, get thee gone good night. ;
Mine eyes do itch
Doth that bode weeping?
Emil. 'Tis neither here nor there.
Bes. I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men I
Dost thou in conscience think, tell me, Emilia, —

61
That there be women do abuse their husbands.
In such gross kind ?
Emil. There be some such, no question.
Bes. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?
Emil. Why, would you not?
Bes. No, by this heavenly light!
; —
Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light

I might do't as well i' the dark.
Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?
Emil. The world's a huge thing: it is a great price
For a small vice.
Des. In troth, I think thou wouldst not. 70
Emil. In troth, I think I should and undo't when I had
;
done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring,

nor for measures of lawn, now for gowns, petticoats, nor
caps, nor any petty exhibition; but, for the whole world,
why, who would not make her husband a cuckold to make
him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't.
Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong
For the whole word, 79
Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong f the world; and
having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own
world, and you might quickly make it right.
Des. I do not think there is any such woman.
Emil. Yes, a dozen and as many to the vantage as would
;
store the world they played for.

But I do think it is their husbands' faults
If wives do fall say that they slack their duties,
:
And pour our treasures into foreign laps,

Or else break out in peevish jealousies, 90
Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us,
Or scant our former having in despite;
Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace,
Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know
Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell
And have their palates both for sweet and sour,
As husbands have. What is it that they do
When they change us for others? Is it sport?
I think it is: and doth affection breed it?
I think it doth; is't frailty that thus errs? 100
It is so too: and have not we affections.
Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?
Then let them use us well: else let them know,
we do, their ills instruct us so.
The- ills
Des. Good night, good night heaven me such uses send.
:
Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend! {Exeunt.

: ! ! :
502 OTHELLO. [act v
ACT V.
Scene I. Cyprus. A street.
Enter Iago and Rodekigo.

lago. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he
come
'Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home:
Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow:
It makes us, or it mars us; think on that,
And fix most firm thy resolution.
Rod. Be near at hand I may miscarry in't.
;
Iago. Here, at thy hand: be bold, and take thy stand,

[Retires.
Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed;
And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons:
'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he dies, 10
Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense,
And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,
Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other.
Every way makes my gain live Roderigo, :
He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobb'd from him,
As gifts to Desdemona;
It must not be if Cassio do remain.
:
He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly; and, besides, the Moor 20
May unfold me to him there stand I in much peril
;
No, he must die. But so I hear him coming. :
Enter Cassio.
Rod. I know his gait, 'tis he. —Villain, thou diest!
[Makes a pass at Cassio.
Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed.
But that my
coat is better than thou know'st:
I will make proof of thine. [Draws, and wounds Roderigo.
Rod. O, I am slain
[Iago from behind loounds Cassio in tJie leg, and exit.
Cas. I am maim'd f or ever. Help, ho! murder murder! 1
[Falls.
Enter Othello.
0th. The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word.

Rod. O, villain that I am!
0th. It is even so.
Cas. O, help, ho ! light ! a surgeon 30
— ! ; !
scE^'E I.] OTHELLO. 503
0th. 'Tis lie: —

O brave lago, honest and just,
That hath such noble sense of thy friend's wrong!
Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead.
And your unblest fate hies: strumpet, I come.
Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted
Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be spotted.
Enter Lodoyico and Gratiano.
Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder! murder!

Ora. 'Tis some mischance the cry is very direful.
;
Cas. O, help!
Lod. Hark! 40
Bod. O wretched villain!
Lod. Two or three groan: it is a heavy^ night:
These may be counterfeits let's think't 'unsafe
:
To come in to the cry without more help.

Bod. Nobody come? then shall I bleed to death.
Lod. Hark!
Be-enier Iago, wiih a
Ora. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and
weapons.
lago. Who's there? whose noise is this that cries on mur-
der?
Lod. We do not know.
lago. Did not you hear a cry?
Cas. Here, here! for heaven's sake, help me?
lago. What's the matter? 50
€rra. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it.
Lod. The same indeed; a very valiant fellow.
lago. What are you here that cry so grievously?
Cas. lago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains!
Give me some help,
lago. O me, lieutenant! what villains have done this?
Cas. I think that one of them is hereabout.
And cannot make away.
lago. O
treacherous villains!
What are in, and give some help.
you there? come
[To^Lodovico and Gratiano.
Bod. O, help me here 60
Cas. That's one of them.
Lago. O murderous slave O villain
!
[Stabs Boderigo.
Bod. O damn'd lago! O inhuman dog!
Lago. Kill men i' the —
dark! Where be these bloody
thieves?
! ! ; —
! ;
504 OTHELLO. [act v.
How silent is tliis town! — Ho! murder! murder!

What may you be? are you of good or evil?
Lod. As you shall prove us, praise us.
lago. Signior Lodovico?
Lod. He, sir.
lago. I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains.
Gra. Cassio! 70
lago. How is't, brother!
Cas. My leg is cut in two.
lago. Marry, heaven forbid
Light, gentlemen: I'll bind it with my shirt.
Enter Biaistca.
Bian. What the matter, ho? who is't that cried?

is
lago. Who is't that cried
Bian. O my dear Cassio my sweet Cassio
!
O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

lago. O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect
Who they should be that have thus mangled jôu?
Cas. No. 80
Gra. I am sorry to find you thus: I have been to seek
you.
lago.Lend me a garter. So. O, for a cliair,
To bear him easily hence!
Bian. Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!
lago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash
To be a party in this injury.
Patience awhile, good Cassio. Come, come;
Lend me a light. Know we this face or no?
Alas, my friend and my dear countryman
— —
Roderigo! no: yes, sure: O heaven! Roderigo. 90
Gra. What, of Venice ?
lago. Even he, sir did you know him?
:
Gra. Know himl ay.

lago. Signior Gratiano ? I cry you gentle pardon
These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,
That so neglected you.
Gjâ. I am glad to see you.
lago. How do you, Cassio? O, a cliair, a chair!
Gra. Roderigo!
lago. He, he, 'tis he. [A cliair brought m.] O, that's well
said; the chair.
Some good man bear him carefully from hence
I'll fetch the general's surgeon. \^To Bianca'] For you, mis-
tress, " 100
Save you your labour. He that lies slain here, Cassio,
Was my dear friend: what malice was between you?
; —— !
Gas. in the world; nor do I know the man.

None
lago.[To Bian.} What, look you pale? O, bear him out
o' tlie air. [Cassio and Roderigo are borne off.
Stay you, good gentlemen. Look you pale, mistress?
Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?
Kay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.
Behold her well; I pray 3'ou, look upon her:
Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will speak,
Though tongues were out of use. 110
Enter Emilia.
Emil. 'Las, what's the matter? what's the matter, hus-
band?
Cassio hath here been set on in the dark
lago.
By Roderigo and fellows that are scaped:
He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.
Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!
lago. This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,
Go know of Cassio where he supp'd tp-night.
[To Bianca] What, do you shake at that?
Bian. He supp'd at my house but I therefore shake not.
;
lago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. 120

Emil. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!
Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest
As yon that thus abuse me.
Emil. As I f oh fie upon thee
! !
lago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd.

Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.
Emilia, run you to the citadel.
And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd.
Will you go on? I pray. [Asid£\ This is the night
That either makes me or fordoes me quite. [Exeunt.
Scene II. A hedchamher in the castle; Desdemona in bed

asleep; a light burning.
Enter Othello.
0th. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!
It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
And smooth as monumental alabaster.
Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.
Put out the light, and then put out the light:
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
I can again thy former light restore,
! ;
Should I repent me : but once put out thy light, 10

Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean heat
That can thy light relume. I When have pluck'd the rose,
I cannot give it vital growth again,
It must needs wither:. I'll smell it on the tree.
[Kissing her.
Ah, balmy breath, that dost almost persuade
Justice to break her sword! One more, one m.ore.
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee.
And love thee after. One more, and this the last:
So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep, 20
But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly;
It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.
Des. Who's there? Othello?
0th. Ay, Desdemona.
you come to bed, my lord?
Des. Will
0th. Have you pray 'd to-night, Desdemona?
Des. Ay, my lord.
0th. If you bethink yourself of any crime
Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,
Solicit for it straight.
Des. Alas, my
what do you mean by that?
lord,
0th. Well, and be brief; I will walk by:
do it, 80
I would not kill thy unprepared spirit
No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.
Des. Talk you of killmg?
0th. Ay, I do.
Des. Then heaven
Have mercy on me
0th. Amen, with all my heart!
Des. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. -
0th. Hum!
Des. And yet
I fear you; for you are fatal then
When your eyes
roll so: why
I should fear I know not,
Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I fear,
0th. Think on thy sins.
Des. They are loves I bear to you, 40
0th. Ay, and for that thou diest.
Des. That death's unnatural that kills for loving,
Alas, why
gnaw you so your nether lip?
Some bloody passion shakes your very frame:
These are portents but yet I hope, I hope.
;
They do not point on me.

0th. Peace, and be stilll
Des. I will so. What's the matter?
! — ! : ; ! ;
OtJi. That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee

Thou gavest to Cassio.
Bes. No, by my life and soul
Send for the man, and ask him.
0th. Sweet soul, take heed, 50
Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy death-bed.
Bes. Ay, but not yet to die.
0th. Yes, presently:.
Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin

For to deny each article with oath
Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.
Bes. Then Lord have mercy on me
0th. I say, amen.
Bes. And have you mercy too ! I never did
Offend you in my life never loved Cassio;
But with such general warranty of heaven 60

As I might love; I never gave him token.
0th. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand.
woman thou dost stone my heart,
perjured !
And makest me call what I intend to do

A murder, which I thought a sacrifice
1 saw the handkerchief.
Bes. He found it then;
I never gave it him: send for him hither;
Let him confess a truth.
0th. He hath confess'd.
Bes. What, my lord?
0th. That he hath used thee.
Bes. How? unlawfully?
0th. Ay. 70
Bes. He will not say so.
0th. ISTo, his mouth is stopp'd
Honest lago hath ta'en order for't.
Bes. Oh my fear interprets what, is he dead ?
! :
0th. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge

Had stomach for them all.
Bes. Alas! he is betray'd and I undone.
0th. Out, strumpet! weep'st thou for him to my face?
J)es. O, banish me, my
lord, but kill me not!
0th. Down, strumpet!
Bes. Kill me to-morrow: let me live to-night! 80
0th. Nay, if you strive,
Bes. But half an hour
0th. Being done, there is no pause.
Bes. But while I say one prayer!
! ; ! : : —
! ! —
0th. It is too late.

l^He stifles her.
Emil. [^Withiri] My lord, my lord! what, ho! my lord,
my lord!
0th. What noise is this? Not dead? not yet quite dead?
I that am
cruel am
yet merciful
I would not have thee linger in thy pain
So, so.
Emil. [ Within\ What, ho lord, lord
: my my
0th. Who's there?
Emil. {Withiii] O, good my
lord, I would speak a word
with you 90
0th. Yes 'tis Emilia.
: By and by. She's dead.
'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death.
The noise was here. Ha! no more moving?
Still as the grave. Shall she come in? were't good?
I think she stirs again: no. —
What's best. to do?
If she come sure speak to my wife
in, she'll
My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife:
O, insupportable! O heavy hour!
Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse
Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe
Should yawn at alteration. 100
Emil. do beseech you
[ îthiii] I
That I may speak with you, O, good my lord
0th. I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia:
Soft; by and by. Let me the curtains draw.
Where art thou? [ Unlocks the door.
Enter Emilia.
What's the matter with thee now?
Emil. O, my good lord, yonder's foul murders done!
Oth. What, now?
Emil. But now, my lord.
Oth. It is the very error of the moon;
She comes more nearer earth than the was wont, 110
And makes men mad.
Emil. Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young Venetian
Called Roderigo.
Oth. Roderigo kill'd!
And Cassio kill'd!
Erml, No, Cassio is not kill'd.
Oth. Not Cassio kill'd then murder's out of tune,
!
And sweet revenge grows harsh.

Des. O, falsely, falsely murder'd
Emil. Alas, what cry is that?
Oth. That! what?
! ! ! ! : : !
Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice.

Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again! 120
Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!
Des. A guiltless death I die.
Ernil. O, who hath done this deed?
Des. Nobod}'-; I myself. Farewell: commend me to my
kind lord O, farewell
: {^Dies.
0th. Why, how should she be murder'd?
Emil. Alas, who knows?
0th. Youheard her say herself, it was not I.
Emil. She said so I must needs report the truth.
:
0th. She's, like a liar, gone to burning hell:

'Twas I that kill'd her.
Emil. O, the more angel she, 130
And you the blacker devili
0th. folly, and she was a whore.
She turned to
Emil. Thou
dost belie her, and thou art a devil.
0th. She was false as water.
Emil. Thou art rash as fire, to say
That she was false: O, she was heavenly true!
0th. Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.
O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell.
But that I did proceed upon just grounds
To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all,
Emil. My husband! 140
0th. Thy husband.
Emil. That she was false to wedlock?
0th. Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true,
If heaven would make me such another world
Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,
I'ldnot have sold her for it.
^
Emil. My husband
0th. Ay, 'twas he that told me first
An honest man he is, and hates the slime
That sticks on filthy deeds.
Emil. My husband
0th. Y/hat needs this iteration, woman? Iây thy hus-
band, 150
Emil. Omistress, villany hath made mocks with love
My husband say that she was false
0th. He, woman;
I say thy husband: dost understand the word?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest lago.
Emil. If he say so, may his pernicious soul
Rot half a grain a day he lies to the heart
!
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.

0th. Ha!
! ——— : :
Emil. Do thy worst:

This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven 160
That thou wast worthy her.
Otli. Peace,, yon were best,
EmiL Thou hast not half that power to do me harm
As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt!
As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed —
I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known,
Though I lost twenty lives. — Help! help, ho! help I
The Moor hath kill'd my mistress! Murder! murder J
Enter Montano, Geatiano, Iago,. and others,

ifon. What ia the matter? How now, general!
Emil, O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,.
That men must "lay their murders on your neck. 170
Gra, What is the matter?
Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a mani
He says thou told'st him that his wife was false:
I know thou didst not, thou'rt not such a villain
Speak, for my heart is full,
Iago.- I told him what I thought,, and told no more
Than what he found himself was apt and true.
Emil, But did you ever tell him she was false ?
Iago, I did.
Emil. You told a lie; an odious,, damned liej 180
Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie.
She false with Cassio! — did you say with ©assio?
Iago. With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your tongue,
Emil. I will not charm my
tongue I am bound to speak
;
My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed,

All. O
heavens forf end
Emil. And your reports have set the murder on.
0th. ITay, stare not, masters it is true, indeed,
:
Gra. 'Tis a strange truth,

Mon. O
monstrous act!
EmiL Villany, villany, villanyf 190
I think upon't, I think: I smell't: O
villany!
I thought so then: — I'll kill myself for grief:
O villany, villany!
Iago. What, are you mad? I charge you, get 5ôu home.
Ewdl. Grood gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:
"Fis proper I obey him, but not now.
Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.
0th. O! 0! O! {He falls on the hed.
Emil. Nay, lay thee down and roar;
For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent
That e'er did lift up eye.
! :
0th. {Rising] O, she was foul! 200

I scarce did know you, uncle there lies your niece,;
Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd:

I know this act shows horrible and grim,
Gra. Poor Desdemona! 1 am glad thy father's dead:
Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief
Shore his old thread in twain,- did he live now,
This sight would make him do a desperate turn,
Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
And fall to reprobation.
0th. 'Tis pitiful; but yet lago knows 210
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it;
And she did gratify his amorous works
With that recognizance and pledge of love
Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand:
It was a handkerchief, an antique token
My father gave my mother.
Emil. heaven! O heavenly powers!
O
lago. Come, hold your peace.
Emil. 'Twill out, 'twill out: I peace!
jSTo, speak as liberal as the north;
I will 220
Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,
All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.
lago. Be wise, and get you home.
Emil. I will not.
\Iago offers to stab Emilia.
Ova. .
Fie!
Your sword upon a woman?
Emil. O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st
of
Ifound by fortune and did give my husband;
For often, with a solemn earnestness,
More than indeed belong'd to such a trifle,
He begg'd of me to steal it.
lago. Yillanous whore 229

Emil. She give it Cassio no, alas I found! ! it,
And I did give't my husband.
lago. Filth, thou liest!
Emil. By
heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen.
O murderous coxcomb what should such a fool
!
Do with so good a woman?

0th. Are there no stones in heaven
But what serve for the thunder? Precious villain —
[He runs at lago: lago, from 'behind, siahs Emelia, and
evit.
Gra. The woman falls; sure, he hath kiU'd his wife.
: — ; —
Emit. Ay, ay: O, lay me by my mistress' side,

Gra. He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.
Mon. 'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon,
Which I have here recover'd from the Moor- 240
Come, guard the door without; let him not pass.
But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain.
For 'tis a damned slave. \ Exeunt Montana and Gratiano.
Otli. I am not valiant neither.
But every puny whipster gets my sword
But why should honour outlive honesty?
Let it go all.
Emil. What did thy song bode, lady?
Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan.
And die in music. [Singing] Willow, willow, willow.
Moor, she wâs chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor;
So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true; 250
So speaking as I think, I die, I die. [Dies.
0th. I have another weapon in this chamber;
It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper;
O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.
Gra. [Within'] If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear*.
Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.
0th. Look in upon me then and speak with me,
Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.
Re-enter Gratiano.
Gra. What is the matter?
0th. Behold, I have a weapon
A better never did itself sustain 260
Upon have seen the day,
a soldier's thigh : I
That, with this little arm and this good sword,
I have made my way through more impediments
Than twenty times your stop: but, O vain boast!
Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.
Be not afraid, though you do see me weapon'd;
Here is my journey's end, here is my butt,
And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.
Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear;
Man but a rush against Othello's breast, . 270
And he retires. Where should Othello go?
Kow, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd wench!
Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at compt,
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven.
And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl!
Even like thy chastity. O cursed slave!
Whip me, ye devils.
From the possession of this heavenly sight!
! ; ! !; :
Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur I
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire 280

Desdemona! Desdemona! dead!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Enter Lodovico, Montano, Cassio carried in a chair, and
Officers witli Iago, prisoner.
Lod. Where is this rash and most unfortunate man ?

0th. That's he that was Othello: here I am.
Lod. Where is that viper? bring the villain forth.
0th. I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.
If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee. [Wounds Iago
Lod. Wrench his sword fromJiim.
Iago. I bleed, sir; but not kill'd.
0th. I am
not soiTy neither: I'ld have thee live;
For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die. 290
Lod. O thou Othello, that wert once so good,
Fall'n in the practice of a damned slave,
What shall be said to thee?
0th. Why, any thing:
An honourable murderer, if you will;
For nought in honour.
I did in hate, but all
Lod. This wretch hath part confess'd his villany:
Did you and he consent in Cassio's death?
0th. Ay.
Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause.
0th. I do believe it, and I ask your pardon. 300
Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?
Iago. Demand me nothing what you know, you know
:
From this time forth I never will speak word.

Lod. What, not to pray?
Ora. Torments will ope your lips.
OtJi. Well, thou dost best.
Lod: Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,
Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter
Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo
And here another: the one of them imports 310
The death of Cassio to be undertook
By Roderigo.
0th. O villain
Cas. Most heathenish and most gross
Lod. Nowhere's another discontented paper.
Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain
But that belike Iago in the interim
Came in and satisfied him.
shak. in.— 17
!
514 O'UlEijLiO. [ACT V.
0th. Othe pernicious caitiff

How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief
That was my wife's?
Cas. I found it in my chamber: 320
And he himself confess'd but even now
That there he dropp'd it for. a special purpose
Which wrought to his desire.
0th. Ofool! fool! fool!
Cas. There is besides in Roderigo's letter,
How he upbraids lago, that he made him
Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came
That I was cast and even but now he spake,
:
After long seeming dead, lago hurt him,

lago set him on.
Lod. You must forsake this room, and go with us : 330
Your power and ôur command is taken off.
And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave.
If there be any cunning cruelty
That can torment him much and hold him long,
"
It shall be his. You
shall close prisoner rest,
Till that the nature of your fault be known
To the Venetian state. Come, bring him away.
0th. Soft you; a word or two before you go.
I have done the state some service, and they know't.
No more of that. I pray you, in your letters, 340
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
Speak of me as I am ; nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice then must you speak
:
Of one that loved not wisely but too well;

Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought
Perplex'd in the extreme of one whose hand,
;
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away

Richer than allhis tribe; of one whose subdued eyes.
Albeit unused to the melting mood,
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees 350
Their medicinal gum. Set you down this;
And say besides, that in Aleppo once,
Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk
Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
I took by the throat the circumcised dog.
And smote him, thus. ^Stahs himself.
Lod. O bloody period!
Gra. All that's spoke is marr'd.
0th. I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee: no waj^ but this;
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
[Falls on thebed^ and dies.
; ;
SCENE ir.] OTHELLO. 515
Cas. This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon

For he was great of heart.
Lod. [ To lago] O Spartan dog, 361
More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!
Look on the tragic loading of this bed
This is thy work: the object poisons sight;
Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house,
And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,
For they succeed on you. To you, lord governor,
Remains the censure of this hellish villain;
The time, the place, the torture* O, enforce it!
Myself will straight abroad and to the state
; 370
This heavy act with heavy heart relate.
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Othello, The Moor of Venice

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Othello, The Moor of Venice

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LIBRARY OF STANDARD AUTHORS.

OTHELLO, THE MOOE OF VENICE.

Scene: Venice: a iSea-pori in Cyprus.

Scene I. Venice. A street.

Enter Roderigo and Iago.

Rod. Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy liate.

Engineers School tiliy. . ;

SCENE l] OTHELLO. 433

And what was lie ?

Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman.

436 OTHELLO. [act i.

In compliment extern, 'tis not long after

SCENE I.] OTHELLO. 437

Rod. Sir, sir, sir,

488 OTHELLO. [act i.

lago. Farewell for I must leave you

Itseems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,

Bra. It is too true an evil: gone she is;

Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds

(6CENE II.] OTHELLO. 439

Scene II. Another street.

Enter Othello, Iago, and Attendants icitli torclies,

lago. Thoiigli in the trade of war I have slain men,

I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.

But that I love the gentle Desdemona,

Shall manife"st me rightl}^ Is it they?

0th. What is the matter, think you?

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom 70

Scene III. A council-cliairiber.

442 OTHELLO. [act i.

As in these cases, M^here the aim reports,

BuJie. Nay, it is possible enough to judgement:

Fii'd Off. A messenger from the galleys.

Duke. Now, what's the business?

We must not think the Turk is so unskilful

Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance

SCENE III.] OTHELLO. 443

DuJce. Write from us to him; post-post-liaste dispatch.

Enter Brabantio, Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Oificers.

Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter

444 OTHELLO. [act i.

Their dearest action in the tented field,

[Exeunt lago and Attendants.

SCEXE III.] OTHELLO. 445

Buke. Say it, Othello.

And often did beguile her of her tears.

446 OTHELLO. [act l

And so much duty as my mother show'd

Bra. God be wi' you ! I have done.

SCENE III.] OTHELLO. 447

These sentences, to sugar, or to gall,

That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear.

therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new for-

Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not,

Bod. What will I do, thinkest thou?

tuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one

These Moors are changeable in their wills

thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a more delicate way

way: seek thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy

Enter Montano and two Gentlemen.